Italian farmers confront heat‑driven water crisis and collapsing wheat prices

In the Po Delta region, extreme heat and rising sea‑level salinity have forced irrigation stoppages and left tomato crops with wilted, salt‑laden plants. Michele Mangolini, vice‑president of Confcooperative Romagna‑Estense, warned of an “economic and employment emergency” as water scarcity threatens both agriculture and agro‑industry jobs, calling for a large‑scale water‑security and climate‑adaptation plan.

At the same time, Italian wheat growers are facing a price collapse. Lorenzo Catellani, president of Cia Emilia‑Romagna, said the price of soft wheat is “practically the same as in the 1970s” despite higher quality and production costs, with a 20 % drop in farmgate prices and a surge in cheap imports. The association is urging stricter controls on imported grain to protect the domestic supply chain.