According to Umberto Bernabucci of the University of Tuscia, heat and humidity can reduce milk yields by 3% to 20%, and in some cases up to 30%, while also degrading protein and fat levels critical for cheesemaking. Analysis by dairy research centre CLAL shows Italian milk production fell an average of 17.2% between March and September from 2022 to 2024, compared with a 15.5% decline in the prior three-year period. Tourism and exports of Italian cheeses such as burrata and ricotta are surging, yet domestic milk supplies are tightening. Studies suggest cooling can offset at most about half of heat-related production losses, while rising energy and feed costs further erode profitability. Italy’s main farmers’ union, Coldiretti, warns that nearly one in 10 dairy farms nationwide risks closure.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 05, 2026 22:14 UTC