Russia’s rising agricultural commodity prices have prompted various export restraints and now there is an announced plan for increased production, of durum. Reportedly, no less than President Vladimir Putin is upset about the increase in pasta prices and his officials announced the new goal of doubling the nation’s pasta production by 2025. Doubling anything seems large unless it is from a small base. Russian durum production is just 2 percent of global production and less than 1 percent of the country’s total wheat output. It is amongst one of the smallest producers of durum at the same time it is the fourth largest overall producer of wheat and the world’s largest exporter. Importantly, climactically it is well su...