How wild boars threaten Italy's prosciutto ham production

The number of wild boar infected with African swine fever ( ASF ) is rising across Italy and threatens to have a devastating impact on one of the country's most celebrated gastronomic products, with consumer sales estimated at €1.7 billion (£1.4 billion). 

“There is no time to waste,” said Stefano Fanti, DIRECTOR of the Prosciutto Consortium in Parma, a city famous for its cured ham and other MEAT products.

“We need to step up the work - we need to bring in the army against wild boar, increase funding for biosecurity, traps and fences, and attract more hunters,” he told La Repubblica newspaper.

“We must clearly understand: what is happening must be treated as an emergency situation, otherwise we will not be able to overcome it. People are really concerned about swine fever. If the virus moves from wild boar to our pigs, we will be forced to cull thousands of them, which will mean higher prices for consumers.”