Local products and geographical indications: taking account of local knowledge and biodiversity

Abstract

The debate and negotiations in progress at the international level concerning the protection of geographical indications (GI) are of direct interest to the local agricultural products and foodstuffs called terroir products. Beyond the protection of the use of their name, which is the founding principle of this system, and the legal and economic considerations this system implies, new questions are being raised about these products concerning the diversification of farming and sustainable development. More and more, and in a favourable context, another major issue is becoming apparent: the biological and cultural diversity linked to these products. This questioning concerns the status and the future of these local resources in our societies and whether or not GIs can help maintain this diversity. Protecting local and traditional products through the GI system can contribute to conserving biodiversity at various levels: domestic animal breeds, plant varieties, microbial ecosystems, and landscapes. This is also a way of maintaining in a formal way shared knowledge and practices, since they underpin the protected resource. Taking account of these elements offers an opportunity to think about agriculture differently and leads us to propose an innovative approach to local products. Several examples taken in France will help show how links can be established between the protection of GI, cultural biodiversity, and local knowledge.

Technological Innovation, Design and Inclusiveness for the Manufacturing Landscapes

“…An awareness-building path over cultural heritage and its productive potentialities is launched by a research team from the DiARC, Federico II, (Progetto Prin 2010 -11) to promote new perspectives towards technological transitions, based on identity and inclusiveness. The basis of the approach is that the collective re-appropriation of knowledge and memories can contribute to activating a gradual process of individual and collective empowerment (Bérard, Marchenay, 2006). The design perspective fits into a cultural framework marked by the European Landscape Convention (Council of Europe, 2000).…”

Environment, agro-system and quality of food production in Italy

“…The legislative framework adopted by the EU and that is currently in force [Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012; European Comission, 2012b] provides that producers apply for the GI protection. They are required to submit an application accompanied by product specifications that contain rules for the production process and the area within which the product is produced, thus linking the agri-food production with specific rural culture and local geographical aspects in the definition of terroir (Bérard and Marchenay, 2006). Once again, the wine sector followed a different piece of legislation and its integration within the same legislative scheme as per other agri-food products occurred with Regulation (CE) No 479/2008(European Comission, 2008.…”

“…Although environmental protection is not explicitly addressed either in EU legislation or in national requirements for the protection of geographical indica-tions, several studies reported their general favourable effect. An overall capacity was observed to maintain multifunctional agricultural systems (Belletti et al, 2003), landscapes and biodiversity thanks to the protection of small-scale production and conservation of local ecosystems (Bérard and Marchenay, 2006). However, some weaknesses were also highlighted, such as the risk of favouring genetic erosion in plant varieties and animal breeds (Thévenod-Mottet, 2010).…”

Smallholder coffee terroirs of Rwanda : linking local to global trade through geographical characterization

“…The geographic locations are sometimes also known for their unique pedo-climate conditions also referred to as "terroir" analogous to wine regions (Rotaru, Filipov, Mustea, & Stoleru, 2010). The product-based farming system should also be known in the defined geographical terroir (Berard & Marchenay, 2006). Such holistic conceptualisation of terroir has never been attempted so far in the coffee-based farming system and therefore we need to develop it.…”

“…Bowen & Zapata, 2009;Vaudour, 2002), for mainly wine (e.g. Berard & Marchenay, 2006;Foroni et al, 2017;Rotaru et al, 2010) and olive oil (Belletti, Marescotti, Sanz-Cañada, et al, 2015). Some terroirs are found outside Europe, such as the example of Taquila cheese in Mexico (S. Bowen, 2010;S.…”