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The nutrition and health potential of geographical indication foods










FAO. 2021. The nutrition and health potential of geographical indication foods. Rome. 




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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Using geographical indications to improve sustainability
    Lessons learned from 15 years of FAO work on geographical indications
    2023
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    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.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Promoting sustainability through the registration of geographical indications
    Guidelines for public authorities to examine applications
    2023
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    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.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Evaluating geographical indications
    Guide to tailor evaluations for the development and improvement of geographical indications
    2021
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    Geographical indications represent a powerful way to foster sustainable food systems through territorial approaches and market linkages, especially for small-scale actors. In this perspective, and following the FAO publication methodologies of the origin-linked virtuous circle, local actors need to well define their geographical indication (GI) system and, more specifically, the product specifications as well as monitor and evaluate the impacts and readjust the system as necessary for the reproduction of local resources. These guidelines aim at providing a detailed and stepwise approach with specific tools to help practitioners in establishing their framework in relation with their objectives and local conditions, to help both the qualification though a prospective evaluation, and the reproduction of local resources though retrospective evaluation.

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