French farmers are struggling to feed their cows after a hot summer drought left fields with very little grass. To help them, the French government has temporarily relaxed strict rules for making some of the country's famous traditional cheeses, including Comté, Abondance, and Beaufort.
Under French law, protected traditional foods rely on a concept called terroir, which connects a product's identity and taste to its specific region. Farmers usually must feed their animals grass and feed grown inside a strict local area. However, the 2026 drought drastically reduced local grass supplies in eastern France and other regions.
The temporary changes allow farmers to bring in grass, hay, and animal feed from outside their official geographical zones. For example, makers of Abondance cheese in the Alps can lower the pastured grass in their animals' diet from 50% to 15%. Makers of Comté cheese in the Jura mountains can also import maize from other places.
Other protected products, including Normandy cider, Calvados, and Crémant d'Alsace wine, are also getting temporary waivers. Officials hope the measures will support farmers through the historic heat, though experts wonder if changing feed will affect the cheese's traditional taste.