Italy tests climate-resistant wheat in Emilia-Romagna's Food Valley

Italy's 'Food Valley' in Emilia-Romagna is at the centre of an effort to future-proof pasta, one of the world's most beloved staples, according to a France 24 report. Researchers there are focusing on the ingredient that matters most — wheat — to develop varieties that can withstand the climate pressures now reshaping agriculture across the Mediterranean.

The work comes as Italy endures another summer of extreme heat, with most major cities on red alert and drought ordinances spreading through several regions. Wheat, the backbone of the country's pasta industry, is acutely vulnerable to the hotter, drier conditions that are becoming the norm.