Extreme Heat Threatens Italy's Parmigiano-Reggiano Heartland and Cheese Output
The Straits Times—Extreme summer heat is battering the Po Valley region of northern Italy, home to Parmigiano-Reggiano production, as sustained high temperatures stress dairy cattle and reduce milk yields. Heat-stressed cows produce less milk with altered composition, squeezing both the quantity and quality of the protected-denomination cheese. The disruption threatens one of Italy's most prized food exports at a time when global food supply chains face compounding pressures.