Thumbnail Image

Using geographical indications to improve sustainability

Lessons learned from 15 years of FAO work on geographical indications

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 16 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) Since 2007, FAO has been applying a comprehensive approach to support its Members in the development of sustainable geographical indications, with the scope of its work ranging from local value chains to national institutional frameworks. Based on the lessons learned from technical assistance projects, consultations with stakeholders across the globe and scientific expertise, FAO has identified a number of best practices to ensure that geographical indications contribute to the development of sustainable food systems. This policy guidance brief highlights the importance of endogenous projects that put local producers at the centre of geographical indication processes (with support from public authorities and experts), as well as of specifications that promote the preservation of local resources. The brief advocates an approach that requires public institutions to play an important, possibly new role in the development of geographical indications, and provides helpful recommendations to this end.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2023. Using geographical indications to improve sustainability – Lessons learned from 15 years of FAO work on geographical indications. Rome. 

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • No Thumbnail Available
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Promoting sustainability through the registration of geographical indications
    Guidelines for public authorities to examine applications
    2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess characteristics or a reputation that are intrinsic to that origin. GIs can be registered as intellectual property rights (IPR) to ensure their protection. In countries where GIs are recognized under a public framework, public authorities can play an important role in the creation of favourable conditions for GIs to contribute to sustainable development and sustainable food systems. In particular, public authorities in charge of GI rights have an important responsibility when examining applications for protection, and the registration should ensure that GIs can function well. The examination of applications not only serves to verify the legitimacy of the GI as an IPR in terms of the link to the origin, but can also influence the GI system’s effectiveness and sustainability performance, in relation with key factors highlighted in the literature such as the clear definition of the specific quality linked to the geographical origin, the local governance, the appropriate marketing strategy. The objective of these guidelines is to provide guidance to public authorities and experts that examine GI applications. These guidelines provide examples and recommendations related to the procedures for the examination of GI requests. They focus on the two types of criteria for the registration: 1) the legal criteria that determine the admissibility for registration (link to origin) and 2) additional criteria that can be considered to help improve the GI system’s sustainability. Finally, the guidelines offer a list of questions to guide examiners along the examination process.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Proceedings of the Third regional consultation on geographical indications in Europe and Central Asia 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    On 20 December, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and oriGIn hosted the online event, Third regional consultation on geographical indications in Europe and Central Asia. Some 111 representatives from 34 countries of geographical indications (GIs) groups, national intellectual property offices and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), other public authorities (the representatives of ministries for agriculture and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development), as well as geographical indication (GI) experts, participated in the event. A discussion paper was presented during the consultation outlining key concepts and global trends concerning GIs today. The empirical material presented in the paper was primarily built on oriGIn and FAO experiences, but also on country studies prepared for the Russian Federation, Republic of Moldova, Georgia, a group of Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), as well as European Union countries (France, Poland, Hungary and Croatia). On behalf of oriGIn – the global alliance of GI – Massimo Vittori, Managing Director, coordinated the activities carried out by oriGIn.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.