Pasta makers in France urge farmers to plant more durum wheat

French pasta and semolina manufacturers are advocating for increased domestic cultivation of durum wheat to stabilize production, despite a poor 2024 harvest. Over the past 15 years, the area dedicated to durum wheat has halved, while pasta consumption has grown by 8% since 2019. The 2024 harvest is projected to be the lowest since 1997, with a yield of 1.2 million tons, and requires 10% more wheat due to smaller grain size. Although cheaper imports are available from Canada and Turkey, French manufacturers prefer local sourcing. French pasta factories can handle 10-20% more durum wheat, offering a growth opportunity for local farmers.

Pasta and semolina manufacturers in France have launched an appeal to increase the cultivation of durum wheat in the country, a few weeks before the start of sowing. Despite the poor harvest recorded in 2024, they renew their commitment to sourcing 100% of their crops from French durum wheat, in order to ensure greater stability in national production. Today, the areas devoted to the cultivation of durum wheat have been halved over the past 15 years, from around 480,000 hectares in 2019 to 239,000 ha in 2024, which is causing concern among industrialists. This decrease contrasts with the increase in pasta consumption in France, which has grown by 8% since 2019, according to the Syndicate of Industrial Manufacturers of Pasta and Semolina (Sifpaf). According to figures from the French Ministry of Agriculture, with expected yields of around 5,080 kg/ha, which is around 400 kg/ha less than last year, a harvest of 1.2 Mt (the lowest since 1997) could be expected, compared to 1.3 Mt in ...