Geographical Indication Building Process for Sharr Cheese (Kosovo): “Inside Insights” on Sustainability

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the reflection on sustainability in the field of Geographical Indications (GI). GIs are instruments for organizing collective action that have great interpretative flexibility. They are mobilized by a set of qualifying actors of differing natures, with diverse and sometimes divergent interests. For this reason, we focus on how the dimension of sustainability emerges from a collective learning process. Based on the approaches developed by Organization Studies, this article describes and analyzes the process of creating a GI for Sharr Cheese, a Balkan seasonal sheep pastoral cheese highly typical of a mountain range in Kosovo ◆ (◆ This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.). The authors occupied an embedded research position in this learning process, from 2015 to 2019. The article describes boundary work carried out by the facilitators of collective action (brokers) within experimental spaces during the GI-building process. It analyzes how environmental accountability within the Sharr Cheese GI emerges from a strategic knowledge-brokering process and intensive institutional work.

One step further: application of metabolomics techniques on the geographical indication (GI) registration process

“…The time taken to complete the registration process was also discussed during the interviews. It was concluded that the time to achieve GI registration is linked with the meaning and value that producers associate with the GI label and the importance given to its benefits (Tashiro et al, 2018;Bernard-Mongin et al, 2021).…”

“…Countries that follow the European GI model but with a recent history in GI implementation (e.g. Asian, African and even European nations) present little understanding of the GI and terroir concept amongst applicants, which may endanger consensus building and resilience during the registration process (Oh et al, 2018;Tashiro et al, 2018;Bernard-Mongin et al, 2021). Considering the discussion above, the following section details the application of metabolomics techniques aiming at the optimization of the Brazilian GI registration process for applicants and the INPI.…”

Cadena agroindustrial queso adobera de los Altos de Jalisco, impulsora del desarrollo local y regional

“…Las indicaciones geográficas para los bienes agroalimentarios y artesanales, han adquirido una especial importancia a nivel internacional (Kokthi et al, 2021;Piñeiro et al, 2021;Ramírez et al, 2018). Los quesos genuinos, son alimentos artesanales que gozan de esta protección legal, especialmente los de origen europeo (Enriquez-Sánchez et al, 2017), producto de la acción colectiva y el interés entre los actores involucrados (Bernard-mongin et al, 2021). Es importante mencionar, que diferentes factores pueden favorecer o limitar la acción colectiva para la diferenciación de productos alimenticios específicos, como el número de actores clave involucrados, que influye en la frecuencia y regularidad de las interacciones cara a cara y, por lo tanto, en las oportunidades para fortalecer "la confianza entre los productores", como elemento central en la acción colectiva exitosa (Pachoud et al, 2020).…”

The Role of GI Products or Local Products in the Environment—Consumer Awareness and Preferences in Albania, Bulgaria and Poland

“…This recognition takes the form of a collective intellectual property right, granting legal protection of the product name in competing markets. From a consumer point of view, a GI guarantees a given quality and clear origin [31,123].…”