08/03/2024-Developing a roadmap towards increased sustainability in geographical indication systems – Practical guidelines for producer organizations to identify priorities, assess performance and improve the sustainability of their geographical indication systems (oriGIn, FAO)

FAO and the Global Alliance of Geographical Indications (oriGIn) have been collaborating since 2016 to develop the Sustainability Strategy for Geographical Indications (SSGI).

This strategy for sustainable GIs aims to highlight and strengthen the relationship between GI systems and sustainability, raise stakeholders’ awareness of their role in GI sustainability and boost the sustainability performance of GI systems. Geographical indications (GIs) are signs used on products that originate from a specific territory and possess qualities or a reputation related to that origin. Through their establishment and management, GIs can stimulate endogenous development when ensuring leadership by local producers, product specifications that are tailored to local conditions and recognition by buyers of products’ origin-linked qualities.
This guide provides a practical step-by-step roadmap for GI organizations that wish to engage on their own sustainability journey. The roadmap consists of three key stages:

1. prioritize sustainability topics for the GI system and engage with public and private stakeholders;
2. assess needs and establish a baseline for each priority topic; and
3. monitor and improve the GI system’s sustainability performances, and regularly review the roadmap in collaboration with allies.

Communication is the fourth crucial and transversal component of the roadmap; it improves efficiency during the process and allows stakeholders to share and celebrate the results.

By following the eight steps outlined in this guide, with detailed guidance, examples and models, GI practitioners will be able to design a sustainability roadmap for their GI system, together with stakeholders.