The Melting Point of Italy's Cheese Economy Italy's dairy industry is facing unprecedented challenges due to record breaking temperatures, which are scorching cheese banks and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of dairy farmers.
The usually reliable Parmigiano Reggiano, worth over $4 billion annually, is taking a direct hit from climate change. The impact is not limited to the vaults that store these prized wheels of cheese.
Italy's vineyards are also struggling with extreme heat, which has led to earlier harvests in regions like Lombardy's Franciacorta.