Robust feed supply with assistance of voluntary defense organizations

 For the production of eggs, milk and meat, feed of good quality in sufficient quantity is a basic requirement. Today's modern agriculture with a high degree of mechanization, few employees and a lot of transport is sensitive to disruptions both in peacetime and during hightened state of alert. This MSB 2:4 project has investigated the need for, attitude towards and how voluntary defense organizations could strengthen the feed supply chain. Almost all of the little bit over 200 animal keepers that the project has been in contact with had experienced some type of disturbance that negatively affected the feed supply over the past ten years. Almost half had experienced a lack of staff and just under a third had experienced problems with transport.

Three voluntary defense organizations (FFO) were assessed in the project to have a direct connection to a robust feed supply chain: Swedish Blue Star Voluntary Club (SBS), National Federation of Swedish Voluntary Motorists (Bilkåren) and Voluntary National Association of Volunteer Motorists (FAK). After a survey and interviews, the project was able to determine that primary producers with food-producing animals and secondary producers of feed for food-producing animals are in need of and are positively disposed to receiving assistance from FFOs to strengthen the feed supply chain. There are many tasks that volunteer resources from FFOs can do at primary producers with animal production. By helping with simpler tasks, they free up time for more qualified staff in the company. Secondary producers of feed expressed wishes for resources that can help with transport within the facility as well as truck transport. To guarantee animal health and food safety, it is important that the volunteers are trained in feed safety and for that the project has developed courses.

In order for voluntary defense organizations to be able to operate, they need to have an agreement with a public actor who acts as a receiver. Currently, no public actor has signed an agreement with any volunteer defense organization to strengthen the feed supply chain in case of crisis. Current project has produced proposals for organization before and during a operation and  considers that the best would be if the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket), which is central authority, acts as receiver, possibly in collaboration with regional and local authorities.