PARISWINNIPEG, Manitoba, Aug 30 Pasta lovers must brace to pay even higher prices for their favorite dish, as drought in Canada and bad weather in Europe damages crops of durum wheat and reduces supplies available to flour millers and food companies.

Italy39;s government called a crisis meeting in May as prices for the staple food jumped by more than double the national inflation rate. With global production of durum wheat headed for a 22year low, Italy39;s famed pasta makers have had to turn to unusual suppliers such as Turkey for their main ingredient.

In Toronto, Continental Noodles knew there was trouble when the cost of a 20kilogram bag of semolina flour, milled from durum, rose 24 in a few weeks of July to C26 19.15. Familyowned Continental, which sells fettuccine and ravioli to Whole Foods and the general public, is also paying more for tomatoes used in sauce after crop setbacks in Spain and India.

One of Continental39;s owners, Vincent Liberatore, fears prices will rise even more now that farmers in top durum exporter Canada have seen their harvest devastated by drought. He said the business will absorb the costs as long as possible, uncertain how much more consumers will pay.

The population has tapped out everything has been going up, Liberatore said. The biggest stress for us business owners right now is the unknown the roller coaster up and down.

Retail pasta prices rose about 12 this year in Europe and 8 in the United States, according to market…