HAMTRACE opens the Italian field campaign at a Prosciutto di Parma pig farm in the Po Plain

On July 2026, HAMTRACE researchers visited Soc. Agr. Alberelle in Correggio, Reggio Emilia province, a commercial pig farm supplying the Prosciutto di Parma DOP production chain. The visit opened the HAMTRACE WP1 Italy field campaign and focused on primary production: the farm-level parameters that determine the chemical identity of Italian PDO ham long before the legs reach a slaughterhouse or curing facility.

Why the farm level matters

Stable isotope ratios in cured ham reflect conditions set at the farm, not in the ageing cellar. Carbon values (δ13C) depend on what the animal ate: whether the feed was maize-dominant (a C4 plant, with a distinctive isotopic signal) or wheat and barley-based (C3 plants, with a different signal). Nitrogen ratios (δ15N) track the protein source and whether the diet was organic or conventional. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) reflect the geology of the soil and water the animal was exposed to throughout its life.

At Correggio, these are well-defined parameters. The farm sits on the Po Plain at approximately 28 metres above sea level, with water drawn from well and municipal sources. The Po Valley's alluvial geology has a characteristic strontium signature, distinct from the Apennine foothills or other Italian production regions. The Prosciutto di Parma production specification adds a further chemical constraint: finishing pigs must incorporate whey (siero di latte) from local dairy cooperatives in their diet. Whey integration during the last months before slaughter leaves a measurable imprint on the isotopic profile of the muscle tissue.

What HAMTRACE collected

During the visit, the team gathered information on feed composition across production phases (piglet, growing, finishing, and whey-integration stages), water source and any available mineral analysis, soil and outdoor exposure conditions, veterinary drug protocols and withdrawal periods, and the format and availability of farm records. Primary contact at the farm: Valter Mondella.

This data feeds directly into the HAMTRACE WP1 country fiche for Italy (deliverable D-T1.1-4) and into the multi-country traceability and authenticity solutions database. Italy is the first of four target countries. Spain, France, and Montenegro follow with field campaigns in 2026 and 2027.

The visit was hosted by HAMTRACE partner FOODHUB. UAB (coordinator) led the scientific protocol.

More information: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101236645