Buzz
Around the globe, numerous entities—ranging from corporations to nations to organizations—amass reserves of essential resources. Whether it's life-saving medications, gourmet cheese, or precious diamonds, these stockpiles can serve as critical safeguards or tools for influencing market dynamics. Discover six of the most intriguing stockpiles in existence.
1. The Global Cholera Vaccine Reserve
What's stored here: A reserve of 2 million oral cholera vaccine doses. Since the vaccination process involves two doses per individual, this stockpile can protect up to 1 million people. Each dose remains effective for up to 30 months.
How it's been utilized: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that 140,000 individuals in South Sudan received the vaccine, marking the inaugural deployment of this reserve. These recipients, residing in temporary camps amid continuing conflict, face heightened vulnerability to cholera due to the camp conditions. While it's uncertain whether an outbreak would have happened without vaccination, it's evident that a significant threat has been averted for these 140,000 people. Additionally, the vaccine can be rapidly dispatched at the onset of an outbreak to curb cholera's spread.
We're concluding the initial phase of the #cholera #vaccination initiative in #Juba #UNMISS Tomping #IDPcamp! #SouthSudan pic.twitter.com/j0X9jU0zzW
— Medair South Sudan (@Medair_SDS) March 3, 2014
Additional highlights: The WHO also oversees comparable reserves for yellow fever and meningitis vaccines.
2. The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
What's stored here: A diverse array of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment intended for use during public health crises in the U.S. According to the CDC, the stockpile includes "antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-saving medications, IV supplies, airway management tools, and surgical essentials." This extensive reserve is designed to handle several large-scale emergencies at once.
How it's been utilized: During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, 11 million courses of antiviral drugs and 39 million respiratory protection devices (such as masks and respirators) were distributed from the SNS. These resources were allocated to affected states based on population size. The SNS has also been activated during critical events like 9/11, the anthrax attacks that followed, and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Stockpile locations: Positioned in "strategic locations" across the U.S. (details are classified). One of the most remarkable aspects of the SNS is its dozen "12-hour push packages," each weighing 50 tons and capable of being dispatched by air or land to major U.S. cities within 12 hours of an order. (For instance, after 9/11, a push package reached its destination in just seven hours.)
For further details, refer to this comprehensive document outlining the program. It's truly remarkable.
3. Europe's Cotton Reserve
"King Cotton" cotton plantation. Image courtesy Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons.
Not all stockpiles are medical—some are steeped in history. This particular one traces back to the Civil War era.
What it contained: In 1858, James Henry Hammond of South Carolina delivered his renowned "King Cotton" speech, asserting:
"What would occur if cotton production ceased for three years?... England would collapse, dragging the entire civilized world down with her, except the South. No, you dare not wage war on cotton. No nation on earth dares challenge it. Cotton is King."
The belief was that if the southern states halted cotton exports, England would be compelled to support the Confederacy in the American Civil War. However, the Confederacy's plan faltered because England had already amassed a substantial cotton reserve.
How it was utilized: Maintaining stability in the global cotton market during the American Civil War. Due to the massive cotton exports in the 1850s, England and other European nations had ample reserves. When southern cotton producers ceased exports (and a Union blockade further restricted trade), cotton prices skyrocketed, prompting increased production in India and Egypt.
Location of the stockpile: England and several European nations.
4. Government Cheese
What it contained: During the 1980s, the USDA accumulated vast quantities of cheese and butter, purchased from American dairy farmers who couldn't sell their surplus on the open market. This practice, which began during the Great Depression, aimed to support the dairy industry by buying excess products.
How it was utilized: In December 1981, President Reagan authorized the release of 30 million pounds from the cheese stockpile. By 1983, the Temporary Emergency Food Distribution Program was established to distribute the cheese in large, unsliced blocks. This initiative gave rise to the term "Government Cheese," as it was provided to low-income individuals to enhance their diets. A ChowHound thread even features nostalgic recollections from those who enjoyed the cheese in grilled sandwiches.
Where it was stored: Caves in Missouri. (Yes, it's true.) According to the New York Times, by 1983, the cheese-and-butter stockpile was valued at over $4 billion.
5. The Diamond Reserve
What it contains: Beginning in the 1880s, Cecil Rhodes, then head of De Beers Consolidated Mines, acquired as many diamond mines as possible. De Beers subsequently amassed a vast stockpile of rough, uncut diamonds.
How it's been utilized: Creating the illusion that diamonds are rarer than they actually are. While diamonds aren't commonly found, numerous mines exist worldwide. The diamond industry has employed stockpiling and controlled releases to manufacture scarcity, thereby inflating prices. In 2000, De Beers reduced its diamond stockpile (from an estimated $3.9 billion to $2.5 billion) after competitors flooded the market. Over a decade later, stockpiling persisted as companies continued to regulate diamond supply to maintain high prices.
Where it's stored: The exact location remains undisclosed. A Washington Post article vaguely described it as "basement vaults," which seems fitting.
6. The U.N.'s Humanitarian Response Depots
What it contains: Five United Nations Humanitarian Response Depots (UNHRD) stocked with emergency supplies for disaster relief. Managed by the World Food Programme (WFP), these depots house a wide range of food and survival equipment. You can even generate a report to check the current inventory of the stockpile.
How it's been utilized: The depots frequently dispatch supplies, as outlined in weekly reports. A notable recent instance was during Typhoon Haiyan, when UNHRD delivered food and equipment to the Philippines. The WFP reported, "Within the first 24 hours, around 42 metric tons (mt) of High Energy Biscuits (HEBs) and emergency IT gear were prepared and shipped from the Dubai facilities."
Where it's located: Six strategically positioned hubs worldwide, situated near disaster-prone regions and shipping facilities. These hubs are in Ghana, UAE, Malaysia, Panama, Spain, and Italy, ensuring supplies can reach affected areas within 24 to 48 hours.
