Heatwaves reduce Parmigiano Reggiano milk production in Italy

Extreme heatwaves in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region are significantly impacting the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Milk output has fallen by approximately 10% due to thermal stress on cattle, as temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius cause cows to eat less and produce less milk.

Farmers are facing rising operational costs to combat the heat. Measures such as installing fans and water-mist systems have led to energy consumption increases, with some warehouse facilities reporting daily energy usage rises of about 30% to maintain cooling for aging cheese wheels.

Beyond heat, the industry is grappling with water scarcity in the Po Valley, shortages of forage, and rising agricultural diesel prices. The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium notes that these climate-driven factors are transitioning from reputational risks to direct physical impacts on corporate balance sheets, manifesting as reduced margins and increased supply uncertainty.