Products and links to geographical origin
Products of origin-linked quality have a reputation, quality or characteristics that are essentially a result of their geographical origin and are related to resources special to the production or processing area.
Local resources and their valorisation
Specific quality linked to geographical origin is associated with the valorisation of local resources, which may be physical (soil, climate, landscape etc.), genetic (especially indigenous plant varieties and livestock breeds) and/or cultural (know-how, traditions, etc.).
The terroir encompasses the interaction between physical (natural) and human factors that has built up over time.
The specific nature of these resources leads to the uniqueness, identity and value of products.
Products of origin-linked quality
These may be food, agricultural, forestry, fishery or handicraft products. Food products from any part of the world can have characteristics linked to geographical origin, and some that have been analysed in case studies may be mentioned here:
Food products may be fresh (non-processed) fruit or vegetables (for example Pica lemons, Tetovo beans and Cuzco giant white maize), vegetable products with some processing (for example Arriba cocoa, Chuao cocoa, Columbian coffee and Taliouine saffron), or processed animal products (for example Cotija cheese, Turrialba cheese, Livno cheese and Uzice ham).
Development of origin-linked quality: a two-level approach
Implementation of a geographical indication scheme promotes the origin-linked quality and protects the associated name. It involves two interrelated levels:
- at the local level: definition of the link between specific quality and geographical origin (area delimitation, product specifications), entailing organization of the producers in the local value chain, land-use management etc.;
- at the national institutional level: recognition of the specific quality linked to geographical origin (evaluation of producers’ request for recognition, registration, protection); at this level, agricultural and rural development policies play an important role in supporting the local process and optimizing it as a tool for sustainable development.
