Italy's agriculture and Parmesan industry hit by extreme heat

A prolonged heat wave with temperatures reaching 45 °C has placed Italy and much of western Europe under red‑level alerts. In Italy, seven cities including Turin, Brescia, Bologna, Florence, Perugia, Rome and Frosinone are on maximum warning, while others remain on orange alerts. The high temperatures and persistent drought are depleting water supplies, prompting restrictions on irrigation and emergency water transfers from neighboring regions.

Farmers report accelerated ripening of grapes, olives and fruit, early harvests, and significant stress on livestock. Milk production has fallen up to 20 % in some herds, threatening the Parmigiano Reggiano sector, which relies on local milk. Producers say the heat cuts milk yields by about 10 % and forces the use of energy‑intensive fans and mist systems, raising electricity costs. In the aging warehouses of Magazzini Generali delle Tagliate, daily energy use has jumped roughly 30 % as climate‑controlled storage struggles to maintain optimal conditions for the more than 500,000 cheese wheels valued at over €300 million.

The Parmigiano Reggiano industry generates roughly €4.5 billion a year and employs thousands, so the combined loss of milk and higher operating costs could lift cheese prices and affect the broader agro‑food supply chain. Agricultural unions and the European Confederation of Farmers have called for a shift from emergency aid to long‑term prevention, urging stronger water‑infrastructure, investment in agro‑ecological practices and a European‑wide adaptation plan. Across Europe, excess mortality of around 10 000 deaths has been recorded during the heat spell, underscoring the public‑health dimension of the crisis.