The Italian durum wheat crisis is worsening, and Confagricoltura is once again calling for structural interventions to safeguard a crop considered strategic for the country. On the eve of the Confederation's Summer Assembly, scheduled for tomorrow, July 15th, attended by Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, the organization is releasing data it describes as particularly worrying for the future of the country's grain sector.
According to Confagricoltura, the National Single Commission (CUN)'s quotations for superior-quality durum wheat have now fallen below €300 per ton, a level that doesn't cover average production costs. This situation, the Confederation emphasizes, is forcing many farmers to harvest the product at a loss.
The analysis by the Confagricoltura Research Center also highlights a structural problem. Between 2012 and 2025, the area cultivated with durum wheat in Italy decreased by 10%, while the self-sufficiency rate fell from 78% to 56,5%.
To achieve self-sufficiency, according to the agricultural organization's calculations, over 880 additional hectares of durum wheat would be needed. As a result, Italy currently relies on imports for nearly half of the raw material used for pasta production, a dependence that continues to increase.
For Confagricoltura, this isn't just a negative market trend, but a genuine issue of "production sovereignty," one that will impact the country's ability to secure supplies of a key raw material for the national agri-food industry.
Furthermore, the international scenario does not suggest an immediate reversal of the trend. Available estimates indicate an increase in global durum wheat supply during 2026, with a consequent growth in global inventories that could continue to put pressure on prices.
The Confederation hopes, however, that the high quality of Italian wheat can be promoted throughout the supply chain, allowing for greater economic recognition of both the raw material and the pasta on national and international markets.
Confagricoltura clarifies that it does not wish to fuel controversy over the functioning of the Single National Commission for Price Collection. Its stated objective is instead to develop a shared supply chain strategy capable of halting the progressive decline in cultivated areas, strengthening national self-sufficiency, and ensuring a sustainable income for producers.
These issues will be the focus of tomorrow's meeting with Minister Lollobrigida. Confagricoltura will present data and proposals with the aim of initiating a dialogue aimed at long-term solutions to revitalize the Italian durum wheat supply chain and ensure its competitiveness in the years to come.
