2nd International Conference on “Worldwide perspectives on Geographical Indications: Innovations and Traditions for Sustainability’’ Welcome Remarks

Your Excellency, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry of Italy

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues, 

I am so pleased to welcome you to FAO headquarters.

Global agrifood systems have been facing complex challenges, which impact the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To overcome these challenges, especially crises, natural disasters, man-made disasters, and economic downturns during the past five years, especially since the pandemic, as well as global conflicts, we need to urgently transform our agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

In other words, we need to produce more with less. I always say that.

Agricultural systems, agrifood systems and rural areas are different from other sectors. Different from computers, different from AI-based industry, because they touch on our traditional culture: technology, customs, life, the way of life even, lifestyle. That makes food not only food!

Of course we promote our scientists, we promote science and innovation, always. But at the same time, we have to promote the traditional way of producing and consuming. That is why agrifood systems and food are so valuable, so different.

And Geographical Indications are critical to achieving this objective because we promote a territorial approach. I would say that agriculture is so different because of the natural conditions: whether on the southern, northern, eastern or western slopes on mountains each part is different because they face different sunshine and rainfall. So, that makes it so special.

Which also aligns with FAO’s approach of ensuring that producers are at the heart of development processes,

Prioritizing the protection of local resources, preserving natural and cultural assets, and creating a viable economic model. Because 84 percent of the farmers in the world are smallholder farmers.

We appreciate the large scale of the commercial farmers that can produce a larger quantity and with qualified standards, which is also a stable international trade and market supply. But we must also look at the 84 percent of the smallholder farmers who produce with their own hands, at their own scale and in their own traditional way.

So that is something that has a special value that we have to explore and to share across borders, not only across countries or across villages.

The development of Geographical Indications also provides opportunities for youth who wish to remain in their local communities and territories. This is especially valid when I promoted the Digital Villages Initiative combined with IT technologies, because then you can build the e-commerce. That is my experience of 20 years ago in China: we helped the remote poor villages who produce local food to sell online so they can share high profits. That is the way of changing business that also benefits the smallholder farmers and producers, and finally also benefits the consumer.

In this conference, FAO provides support to countries on Geographical Indications by consolidating and sharing knowledge and expertise, and by providing training and technical assistance. I said, it is part of the business of FAO.

This conference highlights the importance of and opportunities for successful collaboration, and it provides an opportunity to identify and discuss the latest evidence, good practices and innovations.

It is a little bit of a surprise for me that more than 54 countries came. This means not only Italy, or some traditional agricultural farming system in Asia, Latin America or the southern part of Europe, are interested in this. But also, globally more and more countries realize the additional value of the Geographical Indications system.

The number of Geographical Indications worldwide has grown significantly in recent years, with almost 10 000 products certified and protected. And if combined in other countries, they may have different names, but the context is similar – so the number is even more. Many more have realized it, like the indigenous food in the Amazon, or in the Andes mountains, in Asia, Africa or the Middle East, and across the Arab world. So, every local community has its own way of how to standardize local geographical products.

Of course, FAO will need to work together with Members to standardize the global action.

FAO is proud to have supported the emergence of these products globally. Also, through the GIAHS, which has been running for 22 years. And now I am going to also establish the FAO Museum & Network, with the strong support of the Italian Government, especially President Mattarella and the Ministers of Agriculture, of Foreign Affairs and of Infrastructure, as well as the Ambassador to FAO.

Now, you see we have started a real physical change to clean up this complex and release some rooms for the FAO Museum & Network, officially opening in October this year. We are going to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of FAO and it will landmark that historical memory. The FAO Museum & Network will not only focus on the traditional, but also on innovation and science, showcasing innovation products.

But Geographical Indications bring much more than economic value to the people of their territories.

So, I do not want to speak too much because there are so many experts here and you can discuss in detail later. But what I want to say is that food is not only food. It starts with soil, water, forestry and it ends up not only with nutrition, but with a better life. That is where the Four Betters come from: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life. Food is not only for nutrition. Nutrition is only a chemical component, but healthy food leads to a better life. Nutrition is just one of the parts of that process.

Geographical Indications also reflect innovative ways and forms of collaboration with multiple partners working together along the value chain,

As these products cannot be relocated as they are deeply rooted in their territory and culture, demand collective action and shared decision-making.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We welcome you here and I wish you a good time and that you will leave here with concrete actions and suggestions which we can work on together.

Thank you so much.