For over twenty years, milk destined for the production of Grana Padano has grown at a faster rate than the overall increase in national milk production. This is the figure highlighted by Stefano Berni, general director of the Grana Padano Protection Consortium, who points to it as proof of the PDO's ability to continue absorbing raw materials without expelling them from the production system.
"For over twenty years, the growth rate of milk used for Grana Padano production has consistently exceeded the overall increase in national production of the raw material. This is a fact that leaves no room for interpretation: the Grana Padano system absorbs milk, not expels it," says Berni.
According to the general manager, this result is made possible by the Consortium's Production Plan, the tool that regulates the evolution of supply with the aim of maintaining a balance between production and the market.
“Governing production doesn't mean preventing its growth, but rather ensuring it develops in an orderly and sustainable way, avoiding excesses that would ultimately reduce the product's value,” Berni emphasizes.
The Consortium's director also emphasizes how Grana Padano is currently the most economically profitable destination in the European Union for milk from silage-fed cows, thanks to the correlation between the value of the cheese and the price paid to farmers.
The experience of 2025, however, also demonstrates the risks of excessively rapid production growth. Last year's 7,7% increase, driven by high cheese prices, led to a roughly 20% drop in the price of nine-month-aged Grana Padano.
To counter this trend, the Consortium intervened by strengthening its differentiated contribution system, purchasing 20 cheeses per month for seven consecutive months, and intensifying promotional activities on the Italian and foreign markets, thus encouraging price recovery.
For 2026, Berni expects production growth to be more modest during the summer months compared to the exceptional increases recorded in the summer of 2025, but he believes the underlying trend will remain unchanged.
“Even in the two-year period 2025-2026, the Grana Padano system will continue to absorb a higher share of milk than the overall growth in national production,” he observes.
Hence the call to continue along the path of production planning. "If we want Grana Padano to continue to be the most economically advantageous destination for milk, we must continue without hesitation on the path of growth governed by the Production Plan. Only in this way will it be possible to guarantee balance, profitability, and development prospects for the entire supply chain," Berni concludes.
