Klimafolgen: Hitze und Dürre: Wird der kostbare weiße Trüffel knapp?

Extreme heat and drought are threatening the precious white truffle in Italy. In the region around the northern Italian city of Alba in Piedmont, as well as in central Italy, the usual harvest for the prized "Tuber magnatum Pico" has been disappointing. Following a hot summer and a prolonged drought, there is little of the sought-after "Tuber magnatum Pico", with prices potentially rising, according to media reports.

According to RaiNews and the newspaper "La Stampa", prices could reach around 500 euros for 100 grams at the start of the truffle season in early October. From October 10th to December 6th, the city of Alba expects around 600,000 visitors to the International Truffle Fair. "It's generally bad in Italy, it was too hot," says Antonio Leo, a trade mediator for truffles who runs the platform tartufo.com.

"It's only at the start of the season. I advise none of my customers to buy now," says Leo. "The price is high now, but it will go down." Now it comes down to October and November. Few and small specimens. At the moment, there are only a few specimens of the particularly valuable white truffle, and they are small, according to RaiNews.

The drought in July, August, and September has influenced the start of the season, says Leo. "All of this is shifting due to climate change." The fungus is now also being found at higher altitudes in central Italy, where it did not grow before. Central Italy is the main area for the white truffle. "The forecasts give little room for optimism this year.

The hot summer and continued drought make October difficult," quotes "La Stampa" also Franco Canta, a renowned truffle hunter from San Damiano d'Asti near Alba. Since the search began on October 1st, there have been no encouraging signs. "Very little is found." Hoping for November and December, trade mediator Leo also believes that Stelvio Casetta, honorary president of the Truffle Association Associazione Tartufai Albesi, is right.

"I believe we will find very little," he told the newspaper "Gazzetta d'Alba" recently. However, he still sees opportunities for the season. "We know that the entire month of October will be critical. And to find high-quality truffles, we have to wait until November and December." Rain is now needed to save the season, which is expected to last until the end of January, says Leo.

Water could help sort out poor truffles and promote the development of good ones. The Piedmont region is now dealing with the consequences of climate change for the truffle and is promoting the preservation of truffle trees, but only black truffles can be cultivated at the roots of the trees, says Leo.