Olive oil, risotto rice and pasta at risk as northern Italy suffers worst drought in 70 years

Ancient Roman ruins found in the Tiber River are about 2,000 years old, and are usually covered with water. But recently, they can be seen with the naked eye because a heatwave Which is scorching Italy—what experts are calling Italy’s worst drought in seven decades.

Tom Rankin, professor of urban planning at La Sapienza in Rome, shows Chris Livesey of CBS News where the waters of the Tiber River should be.

“The water is usually up to our waist or shoulder height at this point and now I would say it has gone beyond a wakeup call,” he said.

Heat and drought have left rice fields to a bone-dry risotto. The Po River Valley, which produces 40% of Italy’s food such as pasta and wine, is in a government emergency.

Olive orchards such as Olio Petrucci are struggling to meet demand as half of their olive groves have dried up. Sabrina Petrucci said this is increasing the final cost of the oil sold in the orchard. She said that Olio Petrucci, who has been around since the 1600s, could collapse if things don’t get better.

“We have to rethink our business, even if it’s a forever family business,” she said.

Some towns have implemented water rationing procedures. Rome is considering shutting down all public water fountain systems if the drought worsens.

Scientists are blaming global warming for the lack of rain in the region. drought is believed to have been behind a The Italian Alps collapsed in July, killing 11 people when part of a glacier melted due to record high temperatures.