Food

The population grows relatively fast in this game. Systems need food to grow and should always have spare capacity just in case.

Food is stockpiled but stockpiles won’t last long when the people are hungry.

It is better to build a manned food facility (automated farm under production option in the system management panel) rather than a special building in case the energy is needed to power another building. This prevents starvation and loss of morale.

Facilities also produce more food per building than special structures generally do, and they are frequently upgradeable.