Greece warns of feta cheese shortage as sheep fall ill en masse
Greece is warning of a possible shortage of feta cheese, as sheep and goat pox has spread throughout the country. Due to this disease, the number of livestock has significantly decreased, and along with it, milk production, Euronews reports .
Illustrative photo. Photo: freepik.com
The outbreak began last year and severely affected Greek agriculture, especially in the central and northern regions. To stop the spread of the disease, authorities were forced to cull livestock en masse. By early March, more than 480,000 sheep and goats had been killed.
Farmers say they are in a difficult situation: they have to remain in quarantine for a long time, incur additional costs, and are unable to graze their livestock normally. They fear new outbreaks of the disease, as this will further complicate their work.
Due to the sharp reduction in livestock, milk production has significantly decreased. This is already affecting the production of feta — one of the country's main export products. The situation is particularly strongly felt in the Thessaly region, where a large part of this cheese is produced.
According to experts, in 2026, the shortage of feta could reach about 20,000 tons, as there is simply not enough milk for previous production volumes.