Icelandic Food Security Symposium Reveals Critical Gaps in Emergency Preparedness

Symposium Highlights National Vulnerabilities

A recent food security symposium held in Iceland brought to light critical deficiencies in the nation's emergency preparedness, with particular emphasis on the country's heavy dependence on imported fuel and feed grain supplies. Experts and officials gathered to discuss Iceland's resilience in the face of potential disruptions, concluding that current provisions are insufficient to guarantee sustained food production and distribution during a crisis.

Deep Reliance on Imports Poses Significant Risks

Iceland, despite its robust fishing industry, imports approximately half of its nutritional needs, including essential inputs for domestic food production such as fodder and seeds. This reliance renders the island nation highly susceptible to external shocks, including natural disasters, infrastructure failures, and global supply chain disruptions. The vulnerability was starkly illustrated during the 2008 financial crisis, when the country's grain stocks were reportedly sufficient for only a few weeks. A report by Charlie Edwards, a national security expert from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), published in November 2025, further highlighted Iceland's heavy reliance on imported food, fuel, and medicine, making it vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions.

Critical Shortfalls in Fuel and Feed Grain Reserves

Discussions at the symposium underscored two primary areas of concern: fuel and feed grain. Iceland imports 100% of its oil and coal, which are vital for the transportation sector, including the fishing fleet, and for agricultural machinery. Current estimates suggest that the nation's oil reserves would last only 30-45 days, significantly below the 90-day supply recommended for European Union countries. An energy shortage would severely impede food production, refrigeration, and distribution networks.

Similarly, the country's dependence on imported feed grain presents a major challenge. Domestic grain production accounts for only about 1% of what is needed for human consumption, and imported feed is crucial for livestock. The recent dismantling of Iceland's only grain mill further exacerbates this vulnerability, making contingency planning for food infrastructure even more critical.

Calls for a Comprehensive National Strategy

Experts at the symposium, including Professor Ólöf Guðný Geirsdóttir from the University of Iceland, emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive national strategy for food security. A detailed report submitted by the University of Iceland to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in June 2025 recommended that households maintain supplies for at least three days, ideally extending to six months, and stressed the importance of long-term planning. Torfi Jóhannesson, a doctor of agricultural sciences, also highlighted weaknesses in energy matters and the inadequacy of oil stocks in his November 2025 report, 'Emergency stocks for Icelandic food production'.

Historically, Iceland has lacked a dedicated food security strategy or contingency plan, a situation attributed in part to public complacency and a small administrative capacity. While Iceland's new National Security Strategy (2023) emphasizes societal resilience and critical infrastructure protection, specific, actionable plans for bolstering food and fuel reserves remain a pressing concern. The symposium concluded with a strong call for increased emergency stocks and robust measures to reduce the nation's vulnerability to supply chain disruptions.