Nationale Reserve - Press Conference

Angelika Tisch Nationale Reserve

4. May 2026

On April 28, a press conference was held in Vienna to mark the conclusion of the KIRAS project “National Reserve for Ensuring the Food Supply to the Population in Crises, Including a Logistics Concept” at which Angelika Tisch from IFZ Graz presented the project findings.

The results show that Austria is generally well-supplied even in crisis situations. Existing stockpiles along the supply chains and widespread agricultural production - particularly by family-run farms - play a decisive role in this. According to the study, there is currently no need for the government to build up additional food reserves.

Various crisis scenarios were examined, including a blackout, energy shortages, labor shortages, and prolonged droughts. While short-term crises can largely be mitigated by existing stockpiles, a multi-year drought poses a significant risk to supply security.

The findings underscore the importance of resilient agricultural structures and functioning supply chains. At the same time, the study recommends further strengthening cooperation with private companies and expanding monitoring and crisis preparedness in a targeted manner.

Image Source: BMLUK-Hemerka