Floods in Italy can put paid to mozzarella?

Production of the famous Italian mozzarella cheese is stopped or is threatened to stop in the rural areas of northern Italy. The reason for this is floods that rage in many regions and provinces. Flooding of pastures has led to a sharp reduction of feed and as a result reduction of milk yield. In addition, many of the famous cheese producers reported about damage of milking machines and destructions on the farms. Among the main problems in production is also called the lack of clean drinking water, because flood damaged or destroyed water communications.

Only in Salerno province under water are 5000 hectares of pastures. Today in Italy is considered seeking of funds in the budget for partial compensation to farmers for damages due to natural disasters. However, it is not yet known whether budgetary subsidies will save the industry. According to approximate estimates, losses from the flooding constitute 500 million euros.

Mozzarella producers have reported that due to the crisis caused by flooding, the work will be lost by about 20 000 people employed in the production of the famous cheese.

Floods in Italy were the worst in the last few decades. In total 14 provinces are flooded. The streets of major Italian cities including Milan and Verona are also flooded. In Venice about 95% of the streets are flooded. The water level in the Venetian Lagoon rose to 1.6 meters. The greatest damage were recorded in the Region of Tuscany, where flooding provoked landslides. Several people were killed.