Pasta of the future: Italy tests climate-resistant wheat

In Emilia-Romagna, Italy's 'Food Valley', researchers are creating the pasta of the future by focusing on its main ingredient, wheat, according to a France 24 report. The region, known for its culinary heritage, is now at the forefront of agricultural innovation, testing varieties of durum wheat that can withstand the increasing heat and drought brought by climate change.

The work comes as Italy places all 27 of its major cities under the highest heat alert, with the fourth heatwave of the summer intensifying and edging temperatures in some areas close to 40C, as The Guardian reported. For the Mediterranean basin, where water scarcity is becoming a chronic condition, the development of resilient wheat strains is not just a scientific exercise but a necessity for food security.