During the signing of the agreement, the Norwegian government stated the need for stockpiling due to pandemic, war and climate change

The wheat, which will be owned by the Norwegian government, will be stored at companies' existing facilities across the country. Three companies are storing at least 15,000 tons this year.

"Companies can invest in new facilities and decide for themselves where they want to store grain that an emergency requires, but they must provide grain to the state if necessary", the government said in a statement.

The Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that "establishing a reserve stock of food grain is emergency preparedness".

"There has to be an extra layer of security in case of major disruptions in the international trade system or a failure of national production. This is an important part of the government's work to strengthen national preparedness", Wedum said.

In the coming years, Norway will sign contracts for further stockpiling with the aim of building up to 2029. The goal is to have about 82,500 tons of grain in storage by the end of the decade to then have enough grain for three months of consumption by the Norwegian population in a crisis situation that might arise, Pollestad said.