Canada's Ridiculously Hot Summer Might Indirectly Cause A Global Pasta Crisis

Canada's brutally hot summer has lead to heat waves and wildfires across the country, but it seems as though the effects of our weather will be felt much farther abroad.

According to two French pasta manufacturers, Canada's hot weather has been so bad that it has greatly lowered the amount of durum wheat produced which could, in turn, cause a pasta shortage.

SIFPAF and CFSI, two French organizations responsible for making pasta, said in a recent press release that the extreme heat has lowered Canada's durum wheat production — pasta's main raw material — by approximately 30%.

"Climate change is endangering the pasta market," SIFPAF/CFSI wrote, citing Canada's "heat dome" summer, heavy rains in France, and a low harvest in Europe as three factors endangering the industry.

"In this context, as in 2007, pasta manufacturers in Europe might stop supplying the most fought-over markets," the companies say.

"The pressure on durum wheat prices is extreme," Christine Petit, a spokesperson for SIFPAF, told Narcity over email. "We are in an uncertain international crisis."

According to SIFPAF/CFSI, Canada is the world's leading manufacturer of durum wheat, representing 66% of the grain's trade worldwide.

Will there be a pasta shortage in Canada?

John Porco, chief operating officer for Unico Inc. and Primo Foods, said that Canadians do not need to worry about losing out on pasta in their retail stores this year.

However, Porco confirmed that the product will still be affected by Canada's overly hot summer.

"Yes, durum wheat prices in Canada have increased dramatically over the last several weeks," Porco told Narcity over email.

"The retail prices will most definitely increase but supply should not be an issue."

Unfortunately for pasta manufacturers (and pasta eaters), Porco said that extreme weather events like tornadoes, droughts and hail will continue to affect all the company's agricultural crops into the future.