From Field to Table: Short Wheat Supply Chains and Local Flours

Wheat is not only the raw material for bread, pasta, or pizza: it is also an indicator of how our food system functions. In recent decades, the wheat supply chain has become highly globalized: grains grown in Canada or Ukraine reach Italian mills, flours produced in Europe end up in baked goods in Asia, and …

Desertification and grain production: a fragile balance

However, the growing threat of desertification is compromising the production stability of this strategic crop, with direct implications for food availability and global markets. Desertification, defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas due to climate factors and human activities, currently covers over …

Grain routes: the global voyage of cargo ships

International grain trade is largely dependent on a complex and vulnerable maritime network. Routes connecting major global producers (such as Russia, Ukraine, the European Union, and North America) to markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa are often exposed to geopolitical, climatic, and logistical factors that affect their constancy and cost. Major Maritime Chokepoints …

Ecowheataly at the center of international research: Gianfranco Giulioni presents at ANNSIM 2025

We are proud to announce the participation of our colleague Prof. Gianfranco Giulioni in the ANNSIM 2025 – Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference, held at the Complutense University of Madrid from May 26-29, 2025. The conference is one of the most important international events in the field of modeling and simulation, bringing together experts from …

CO₂ emissions from wheat production: how much does a loaf of bread weigh?

When we bring home a loaf of bread, we rarely consider its environmental footprint. Yet behind every kilogram of wheat turned into flour and then into bread lies a well-defined carbon trail. Understanding the climate cost of what we eat is increasingly crucial in a world searching for solutions to the climate crisis. Wheat’s Life …

Water use in wheat cultivation: waste and solutions

Water is a key resource for agricultural production, and wheat-while a relatively drought-resistant crop compared to others-requires significant amounts of water at critical times in its biological cycle. In a context of increasing water scarcity due to climate change and over-exploitation of aquifers, optimizing water use in cereal farming has become not only desirable but …

Climate change and wheat production: threats and adaptations

Wheat is the foundation of global nutrition: more than 35 percent of the world’s population depends on this grain for their daily caloric intake. However, climate change is putting pressure on this staple crop, with effects increasingly evident in the planet’s major production basins. One of the most significant impacts is the increasing frequency of …

The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Global Wheat Production and Exports

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has had a massive impact on the global wheat market, jeopardizing food security for millions of people. As two of the world’s top wheat exporters, the war has directly affected production, logistics, and prices, triggering a crisis that has impacted both importing and exporting …

The Global Wheat Market: Control Strategies and Geopolitical Impacts

The global wheat market is not only influenced by production and demand but is also a battlefield of strong geopolitical dynamics, control strategies, and international tensions. Governments, multinational corporations, and investors play key roles in determining access to and pricing of this essential cereal. 1. Wheat as a Geopolitical Weapon In recent years, wheat has …

Global Wheat Production: Dynamics, Trends, and Challenges

Wheat is one of the most important cereals worldwide, serving as a staple food for billions of people and a cornerstone of the global agricultural economy. Its production is influenced by numerous factors, including climate, agricultural policies, international trade, and new technologies. 1. Production and Major Growing Areas Wheat is cultivated on almost every continent, …