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D. Giovannucci (2007) The New ‘Local’: Linking Geographical Indications and Organics

Paper,
1st IFOAM International Conference on ‘Marketing of Organic and Regional Values’, Germany, August 26 - 28, 2007.

Document:
Giovannucci.pdf

Abstract
What do Parmigiano cheese, Bordeaux, Idaho potatoes, Basmati rice, and Darjeeling tea have in common? As the concept of ‘local’ sourcing and marketing becomes more important, these Geographical Indications (GIs) or appellations are a potentially unique form of competitive advantage available even for small farmers and enterprises. A GI legally identifies and formally recognizes a good as originating in a delimited territory, or region where a noted quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin and/or the human or natural factors there.
In many markets, organic certification, though valuable, may not offer the most appropriate way of safeguarding the actual provenance of local foods and conveying this to consumers in the marketplace. However, in more than a hundred nations, GIs are recognized as a unique expression of local agro-ecological and even cultural characteristics that have come to be valued as signals of high quality and local traditions. In many cases GIs can readily combine with organic certifications and thus provide a unique combination of assurance to consumers.

Keywords: Geographical Indications, appellations, small farmers, developing countries, standards, tradition, culture, environment.

Relevance to our study:
This study is relevant to our project because underlines the importance of the role of the Geographical Indications in relation to the organic sector, They can prove to be a valuable asset for organic producers and marketers because GIs can complement and are in alignment with the precepts of organic agriculture. They can foster market-based support for local traditions and cultures. They provide an excellent framework for broad-based and equitable rural development at the regional level. Viable GIs are essentially building a legally protected brand and a reputation in the marketplace.
GIs are in alignment with emerging trade demands for quality, traceability, and food safety.
They typically, though not always:
_ Apply standards
_ Use certification systems that can interface with others such as organics
_ Tend to be traceable due to their uniqueness especially with the advent of low-cost DNA tracing
_ Often implement appropriate processing technology
In these ways GIs can serve as conceptual frameworks to drive an integrated form of rural development. The institutional structures that are part of many successful GIs may be beneficial to local and regional governance as well as to organic certification management.
In the paper it’s written that the full document will be published by the UN International Trade Center; available in mid 2008, but at that moment (January 2009) it has not been yet published.

Relevancy on a scale from 1 to 5 = 5

Review status: Finished
Review started on 2009–01–21
Reviewed by Samanta Rosi Bellière?

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