Italy's Food Valley tests climate-resistant wheat for pasta's future

In Emilia-Romagna, Italy's 'Food Valley', researchers are developing climate-resistant wheat to safeguard the future of pasta, according to a France 24 report. The work focuses on the crop's main ingredient, durum wheat, as rising temperatures and drought increasingly threaten Mediterranean agriculture. The region, home to some of Italy's most famous food industries, is betting on technology to keep the country's signature dish viable.

The initiative comes as Italy endures its fourth heatwave of the summer, with all 27 major cities placed under the highest red alert, edging temperatures close to 40C in some areas, as The Guardian reported. The extreme conditions have already fueled wildfires and disrupted energy systems across Europe, according to CBS News. For a nation where pasta is both a cultural touchstone and an economic pillar, the pressure on wheat harvests is more than an agricultural concern.