Rock Tripe

Rock tripe has saved lives. This large, leathery lichen growing on rock faces was eaten by stranded explorers and indigenous peoples across northern regions when other food was unavailable. It requires extensive preparation (boiling to remove bitter acids) but provides survival calories when nothing else is available.

Rock tripe demonstrates the value of 'emergency infrastructure' - assets that seem useless in normal times but become critical during crises. It's not anyone's first choice of food, but it's there when the first choices aren't. The business parallel is backup systems, emergency reserves, and capabilities maintained 'just in case' that prove their value during rare but critical moments.