The Mediterranean region is currently one of the hotspots of the climate crisis
Against the background of the drought in Italy, humanity may face a shortage of Parmesan cheese, predict scientists quoted by the world media. The reason is that the amount of water in the Po River, which supplies 30% of the country’s farms, has greatly decreased, threatening the production of the popular cheese.
According to Massimiliano Fazzini, head of the Climate Risks Unit at the Italian Society of Geoecology, the water shortage in the river basin is 45-70%. The specialist explains that the Po is fed by the snow in the Alps and by the rains in the spring. Since May this year, however, rainfall has been low, so people who live and work thanks to the river are at risk.
According to him, the situation is critical and can only continue to worsen.
The expert reports that the water of the Po is necessary for raising dairy cows. Normally, cows give 30 liters of milk per day to produce real Parmigiano-Reggiano – for this purpose each animal must consume 100-150 liters of water.
Moisture is also needed to grow juicy fodder for the herds. The shortage of water in the Po River threatens to lead to the closure of agricultural holdings.
According to scientists, the Mediterranean region is one of the hotspots of the climate crisis. Forecasts are that temperatures there will be 20-50% higher than the global average, and droughts will increase by mid-century.
Photo: pixabay
