Place, food, and agriculture: the use of geographical indications in olive oil production in western Turkey

Abstract

This study concerns how olive oil producers and local bureaucrats in western Turkey use geographical indications (GIs) as a localist strategy to strengthen their position in global markets by challenging conventional agricultural practices. The study employs the disarticulation approach of global commodity chain analysis in order to understand which factors delink people and places from conventional commodity chains/industrial chains and link them instead to GI chains. The results of the study indicate that regional disadvantages—e.g., high production costs due to land characteristics—are the main factor delinking local actors from the conventional olive oil commodity chain. Furthermore, certain dynamic rent opportunities that are related to characteristics of territorial quality and to local cultural characteristics also contribute to the linking of the region and producers to GI chains.

The benefits and barriers of geographical indications to producers: A review

“…However, the price of a GI product is not always an advantage (Nizam, 2017; Chalupová et al ., 2021). Zhao et al .…”

“…Lower prices and difficulties by producers in accessing higher products value were also mentioned by Kizos and Vakoufaris (2011) and Neilson et al . (2018), Nizam (2017).…”

“…The value created by a GI can lead to an improvement in the economic conditions of the region (Cei et al ., 2018). In addition, the production of traditional goods can foster other economic activities inside the territory, such as rural tourism (Ghosh, 2016; Quiñones-Ruiz et al ., 2016; Nizam, 2017; Rahmah, 2017; Cei et al ., 2018; Ingram et al ., 2020). However, it is worth noting that a GI solely does not guarantee rural development.…”

“…To access a GI, it is necessary to meet certain requirements collectively, which means that producers must interact with each other (Ghosh, 2016). However, the lack of a representative organization or the existence of organizational problems is frequently seen as one of the challenges for GI’ success (Bowen, 2012; Dentoni et al ., 2012; Mancini, 2013; Menozzi, 2014; Ghosh, 2016; Nizam, 2017; Quiñones-Ruiz et al ., 2017; Filipovic, 2019). Among the factors that can help to form these barriers are the lack of trust among producers, the high fragmentation and heterogeneity of agents in the territory, as well as the existence of opposing interests (Bowen, 2012; Dentoni et al ., 2012; Ghosh, 2016; Filipovic, 2019).…”

“…There are also difficulties in reaching consensus among local agents. Agents may have contradictory ideas about the strategies that should be adopted by the GI, which affects the level of cooperation in the future, as well as the performance of the GI and its ability to generate benefits (Dentoni et al ., 2012; Nizam, 2017; López-Bayón et al ., 2020). The heterogeneity of the agents interested in the GI can increase the need for efforts in the registration process (Quiñones-Ruiz et al ., 2016).…”