noun
emergency food; famine food
Food stored or prepared for use during famines, natural disasters, or other emergencies. A somewhat formal or technical term.
自治体は災害に備えて備荒食を備蓄している。
The municipality stockpiles emergency food in preparation for disasters.
昔の農家は飢饉に備えて備荒食を蓄えた。
Farmers in the past stored famine food in case of crop failure.
Compound of 備 (prepare), 荒 (famine/disaster), and 食 (food). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with food stored for emergencies.