Foodstuffs

An adequate food supply is essential for survival. Consequently, food shortages are immediately perceived as a crisis. The Foodstuffs Division ensures that Switzerland maintains a supply of critical commodities and foodstuffs during serious shortages.

Many foods are interchangeable as various products contain essential nutrients. Switzerland's food supply is relatively resilient thanks to a dense domestic and international supply network.

Food supply chains depend on other sectors such as energy, logistics, industry and ICT, as well as on imported products. Just-in-time processes render supply chains vulnerable to disruptions that can result in shortages. Therefore, the interaction and smooth functioning of agricultural production, processing, packaging, distribution and imports are crucial.

Threats to the food supply include large-scale events such as power outages, epidemics, cyberattacks or telecoms failures. The impact of extreme weather events on supply must also be considered.

In addition to specific contingency measures by the Foodstuffs Division, both business and the general public have a responsibility to maintain emergency stocks for short-term supply disruptions, such as power outages or localised flooding. Similarly, companies should develop business continuity management (BCM) plans to ensure operations can continue during crises.

Current situation - Boosting emergency supplies

The FONES specialists in the Foodstuffs Division are supported by experts from business, industry associations and other government bodies working in a secondary capacity. Together, they cover the entire value chain to ensure food security. The external experts contribute a wealth of knowledge and experience. They help assess the supply situation, develop and update intervention measures and, when needed, play a part in putting these strategies into action.