Italy's Famous Cheese Parmesan Under Threat: Heatwaves Affect Production

The record-level heatwaves in Italy are threatening the production of the world-famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The heatwaves are reducing milk production, while the drought is affecting the production of feed, and the rising energy costs are also having an impact.In the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, the cows are only fed with hay and grass grown in the region. However, when the temperature rises above 40 degrees, the cows lie down more, eat less, and milk production drops.

We don't want to be the last generation to eat parmesan.

say the experts, highlighting the challenges faced by parmesan producers. The parmesan sector, which is an important source of income for Italy, provides employment for thousands of people and is a cornerstone of the regional economy.The heatwaves are not only affecting milk production but also the conditions required for the cheese to mature. At the warehouses of Magazzini Generali delle Tagliate (MGT) in Reggio Emilia and Modena, over 500,000 wheels of parmesan are stored.MGT Director Giancarlo Ravanetti notes that energy consumption has increased. International Sales Director of the food company GranTerre, Paolo Ganzerli, also draws attention to the impact of extreme weather events on the sector.