26 April 2018: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have released a study that finds food products with specific, certified geographic origin are contributing to economic and social benefits for populations in rural areas and can support progress towards the SDGs.

The report titled, ‘Strengthening sustainable food systems through geographical indications,’ focuses on food products with trademarked geographical indication (GI) labels that have specific qualities tied to their location of origin. The report analyzes the economic impact of GI in nine case studies: Colombian coffee; Darjeeling tea (India); Futog cabbage (Serbia); Kona coffee (US); Manchego cheese (Spain); Penja pepper (Cameroon); Taliouine saffron (Morocco); Tête de Moine cheese (Switzerland); and Vale dos Vinhedos wine (Brazil). In all nine cases, product registration increased the price of the final product, with the premium for GI typically ranging between 20 to 50 percent. Tailiouine saffron producers who joined a cooperative achieved a 500 percent increase in the added value of their final product.

When Serbian farmers registered Futog cabbage with a GI label, some farmers achieved a 70 percent increase in sale prices. Cameroonian farmers have increased their incomes six-fold by registering Penja pepper, with local farmers saying registration of the Penja pepper raised incomes and stimulated stakeholder inclusion, public-private sector dialogue, and growth of other connected industries.

The report argues such products can be a pathway to sustainable development for rural communities by promoting quality products, improving access to more remunerative markets, strengthening value chains and making food systems more efficient and inclusive. FAO Senior Economist Emmanuel Hidier explained that foods with the GI label represent an approach to food production and marketing systems that “place social, cultural, and environment considerations at the heart of the value chain.” Florence Tartanac, FAO, said the products’ unique linkages with their “natural and cultural resources in local areas” make them a useful tool to advance progress towards the SDGs, particularly because such they preserve food heritage and contribute to healthy diets.

The report observes there are hurdles that producers must consider when applying for an origin label, such as environmental impacts. GI specifications must include requirements to protect against natural resource over-exploitation. The report proposes a roadmap to maximize GI’s economic impacts and optimize the contribution of such products to sustainable food systems and sustainable development more broadly. [UN Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [Publication: Strengthening Sustainable Food Systems through Geographical Indications]