Strategic reserves -- everything from Canadian maple syrup to seeds -- are intended to stabilize prices or to help us survive, in both the short and long term. So what are we keeping and why? (and what happens if someone steals it?!)

Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month!  Or buy the book or some merch.  Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesliyan.  

Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Links to all the research resources are on the website.

Sources:

https://listverse.com/2015/12/14/10-of-the-strangest-items-governments-are-stockpiling/

http://theweek.com/articles/454970/logic-behind-worlds-4-weirdest-strategic-reserves

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2012/12/20/why-maple-syrup-is-controlled-by-a-quebec-cartel/?utm_term=.8628802d4fe2

http://mentalfloss.com/article/87144/15-strategic-reserves-unusual-products

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_mountain

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-27/europeans-eat-into-butter-mountain-in-sign-high-prices-to-linger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omBxXzdBR2Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiZ75XbG7YA

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/07/15/raisins-regulations-and-politics-in-the-supreme-court

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Raisin_Reserve

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/one-growers-grapes-of-wrath/2013/07/07/ebebcfd8-e380-11e2-80eb-3145e2994a55_story.html?utm_term=.74d6dccd2110

http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/industry-markets-and-trade/market-information-by-sector/horticulture/horticulture-sector-reports/statistical-overview-of-the-canadian-maple-industry-2015/?id=1475692913659

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-02/the-great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist

https://explorepartsunknown.com/quebec/canadas-maple-syrup-cartel-puts-the-squeeze-on-small-producers/

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/01/illustrated-account-great-maple-syrup-heist/

http://time.com/4760432/maple-syrup-heist-prison-fine/

http://www.ediblegeography.com/syrup-stockpiles-wine-lakes-butter-mountains-and-other-strategic-food-reserves/

http://www.ediblegeography.com/syrup-stockpiles-wine-lakes-butter-mountains-and-other-strategic-food-reserves/

https://www.ft.com/content/982ed0e4-8a1d-11e4-9b5f-00144feabdc0

https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/guest_blog/posts/confeusion-a-quick-summary-of-the-eu-wine-reforms

http://mentalfloss.com/article/87144/15-strategic-reserves-unusual-products

https://listverse.com/2015/12/14/10-of-the-strangest-items-governments-are-stockpiling/

http://www.nww2m.com/2015/06/scitech-tuesday-when-the-rubber-meets-the-road/

https://insideecology.com/2018/01/12/the-frozen-ark-project-biobanking-endangered-animal-samples-for-conservation-and-research/

https://www.researchitaly.it/en/news/the-ice-memory-project-is-underway/#null

https://www.arctictoday.com/ice-cores-best-link-ancient-climates-scientists-racing-preserve-still-can/

https://www.rbth.com/blogs/2014/05/12/the_men_who_starved_to_death_to_save_the_worlds_seeds_35135

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2018/08/the-scientists-who-starved-to-death.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices