Italy's Dairy Industry in 2023

Italy continues to be a significant force in the global dairy industry, blending its rich heritage with modern innovations. In 2023, the country sustained its reputation for producing high-quality dairy products, supported by approximately 1.6 million dairy cattle. This led to a milk production volume of about 12 million tonnes, with the processing volume reaching approximately 11 million tonnes, showcasing Italy's efficient dairy infrastructure.

Key Statistics

The dairy sector in Italy is robust, with cheese production reaching approximately 1.3 million tonnes. Milk powder and whey production volumes are about 1 million tonnes each, highlighting the country's diverse dairy product capabilities.

Major Market Players

The market is dominated by major enterprises such as Granarolo S.p.A., Parmalat, Galbani, Inalpi, and Sterilgarda Alimenti S.p.A. Significant dairy farms include Azienda Agricola Zordan, Fattoria Latte Sano, Caseificio Palazzo, Allevamenti Grazia, and Soc. Agr. Marcuzzi.

Trade Dynamics

In 2023, Italy exported approximately 500,000 tonnes of dairy products while importing about 700,000 tonnes. Italy's renowned cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gorgonzola drive its active trade behavior. The country was among the top ice cream suppliers to China, with exports valued at $682,000 by the end of July. Italy exported around 4,500 tonnes of cheese to China, contributing significantly to China's cheese import growth.

Significant Events and Challenges

The dairy industry experienced a stable economic environment due to stable raw milk pricing. Challenges included international scrutiny over subsidies and security concerns such as the theft of Parmigiano Reggiano. There was a growing demand for curd snacks and an expansion into the Pakistani livestock and dairy sectors. Debates over the Nutri-Score system highlighted Italy's commitment to food standards, while production pressures from H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks posed ongoing challenges.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Italy's dairy industry is poised for growth with plans to introduce Amul products to the market and enhance trade relations with India. Developments like Greatview's new plant in Perugia and Galdi's updated brand identity indicate a strategic focus on expansion and innovation. Research from the University of Padova on microplastics in cheese reflects Italy's dedication to maintaining product quality and safety.

Climate and Environmental Challenges

Italy's burrata production faces threats from extreme heat, reducing milk output and affecting cheese quality. Rising temperatures significantly impact Italy's dairy sector, particularly in Puglia, a key region for burrata cheese production.

Government and Industry Initiatives

A state aid package is directed towards the dairy sector in South Tyrol, specifically allocated to the Centro Latte Bressanone Società Agricola Cooperativa. Agricow Srl Italia will present animal welfare solutions at Fieragricola in Verona. An Italian financial institution has begun accepting Parmigiano Reggiano cheese as collateral for loans, with its PDO status ensuring stringent production standards.

Research and Innovation

The University of Milano is involved in research supported by various funding bodies. The research focuses on using milk whey in cultivated meat production, with support from the European Union's NextGenerationEU initiative.

Consumer Trends

Italy is part of the 27 European countries involved in the SHARE study, monitoring the health status and aging of individuals over 50. OraSì, an Italian brand, emphasizes sustainability in its production of hazelnut milk using Italian-grown hazelnuts. The country reported growth across all plant-based categories, with sales reaching €669 million, a 4.5% rise. Plant-based milk dominated, accounting for over half of the market.

Specialty Cheese Production

Italy is noted for its use of Cagliata cheese in the production of mozzarella and burrata. The ecological Cagliata cheese produced by Celega using Galician milk is particularly noted for its use in the production of mozzarella and burrata in Italy. Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP is produced exclusively from buffalo milk and is protected by a European designation of origin. Mozzarella made from cow’s milk is also widely used, including in fresh products and pizzas. In Italy, the term fior di latte is used for certain cow’s-milk mozzarellas.

International Partnerships

Italy's technology and expertise are being sought to develop Pahang's dairy buffalo industry. The initiative includes acquiring and breeding Italian Mediterranean dairy buffaloes. Additionally, Italy's Navatta is involved in providing systems for fruit processing, including pulp extraction, vacuum concentration, pasteurisation, and aseptic filling. Five robots imported from Italy handle cheese maturation tasks at RAR.

Traditional Italian Desserts

Italy’s torta caprese ranked third in a TasteAtlas listing of traditional desserts. Torta caprese, which ranked third, comes from the Italian island of Capri. Its traditional recipe uses dark chocolate, eggs, sugar, almonds, and butter. The absence of flour gives it a dense, moist texture. Italy's cheese-making history includes the Conciato Romano, described as possibly the world’s oldest cheese. Italy's Conciato Romano has origins dating to the Roman Empire. A survey conducted in Italy found that 32.7% of Italian travellers had taken part in a cheese-related activity. This survey showed an increase of 7.3% in cheese-related tourism compared with 2021. Italy is also home to Asiago PDO, a less familiar award-winning cheese. Burrata originated in Andria, in the southern Italian region of Puglia. Researchers attribute its creation to cheesemaker Lorenzo Bianchino during the early decades of the 20th century. Supported by increased involvement from the Italian Trade Agency and Italy’s foreign ministry. The 48th edition of the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) event will cover gelato, pastry, bakery, pizza, chocolate, and coffee. Support from the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) brought 502 top buyers from 74 countries.

Security and Technology

Cyberattacks targeted the refrigeration systems in Italian supermarkets, leading to the disposal of thousands of tonnes of perishable food. Farm director Sérgio Soriano began introducing selective dry-cow treatment after learning about it at a lecture in Italy. The lecture in Italy contributed to the adoption of selective dry-cow treatment at Fazenda Colorado, influencing farm practices in Brazil.

Italy was one of the countries surveyed in Danone's research on plant-based dairy alternatives. The study included Italy among the countries surveyed for plant-based dairy consumption habits.