Boden forms local food preparedness council

“Through this agreement, we are strengthening cooperation between the municipality and our local retailers. Together, we are building a safer and more resilient food supply for the residents of Boden, both during peacetime crises and periods of heightened preparedness,” says Boden municipal commissioner Béatrice Öman.

Today, she signed the agreement together with representatives from Coop and ICA in Boden and Norrbotten.

“Boden Municipality is truly a pioneer. Sitting down together to review who does what and clarify different areas of responsibility has not happened before. More municipalities should do this,” says Tomas Hansson, CEO of Coop Norrbotten.

The initiative comes from Boden’s emergency preparedness coordinator, who believes that food preparedness begins with the local grocery retailer. That is where citizens turn first.

The local preparedness council will serve as a platform for cooperation where the parties can meet for dialogue, exchange of experience, and joint development. The council will meet several times a year with a focus on evaluating and improving the local capacity to maintain a functioning food supply even during societal disruptions.

An important part of the work involves building a strong local network with established communication channels and shared working methods that can be activated quickly in the event of a crisis. Through the council, opportunities will also be created for joint exercises, knowledge-building initiatives, and development projects related to food preparedness.

Boden Municipality is convening the local preparedness council and is responsible for leading the work forward. Present at the signing of the agreement were Andreas Johansson, Anders Brännström, municipal commissioner Béatrice Öman, John Hedberg, Jeanette Karlsson, Tomas Hansson, and Glenn Strandberg.