Increase in Pasta Prices in Italy Attributed to Global Warming, Growing Use of Durum Wheat for Biofuels and Ethanol Tariffs

Durum wheat is main raw material of Italian pasta and is reported to be one of the reasons that make Italian pasta taste good.  The endosperm of Durum wheat gives pasta its characteristic yellow color. Although Durum wheat for pasta is sourced in Italy, the country is forced to import 40% of its supply (mainly from Canada and Syria), due to strong domestic demand and a growing export market.  However, Syria recently banned the export of this commodity, and the wholesale price in Canada has increased due to new demand of the wheat as a biofuel feedstock. Consequently, Italian pasta manufacturers are warning of a 20% surge in pasta prices in autumn this year. 

Global warming has been attributed to the productivity declines of Durum wheat in the Mediterranean. The Biopact website  also describes another component of the problem, related to “European and American tariffs on imported ethanol, which allow durum wheat to be used as a raw material for ethanol”. More details are available at the Biopact website.

Information about Durum wheat from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durum