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Area of divergence
From the nine discussion groups, some issues emerged in relation with constrains, specific practices to be recommended for increased sustainability, the need to explore more in detail certain areas, and priorities to be given to specific topics of interest, as described below. a) Strengths and constraints within food systems The contribution to sustainability depends on several factors, such as the kind of product, initiative drivers and legal framework. The economic interests and the profitability of the production are still among the main priorities of most producers. This could induce exces
... Подробнееs of specialization and standardization of the GI product and increase the risk of the degradation of the natural resources involved in the production process, compromising the overall capacity of the GI to ensure the preservation and protection of local natural and cultural heritage, biodiversity, and ecosystems and to convey to consumers the information on its territorialized positive impact. However, the preservation of natural and cultural assets is strictly linked to the survival of the GI in the long term and therefore to the economic benefits derived from its use. Raising producers’ awareness on this issue could be an effective strategy to encourage stakeholders’ commitment to additional (and/or stricter) rules and to enhance the implementation of best practices for resource management. Some contradictions between GI processes and regulations were also noted: • Sometimes the local “know-how” does not comply with international trade rules (for example sanitary and phytosanitary norms). This makes the process more complex, and legislation should consider some flexibility for traditional and GI products. • Strong and efficient value chain coordination might result in the control of, and agreement on, volumes, which have an impact on prices. This can be considered in certain countries a breach of competition laws. Studies could be developed to demonstrate the advantages of such practices over the risks. • Top-down approaches may lead to unused and non-effective GIs; studies on how to grant temporary protection and register the GI only once the whole management system is in place would be interesting. b) Areas that need further exploration More studies on the sustainability of GIs to cover various contexts and products would be interesting to disseminate, especially with regard to the environmental dimension. In particular, research on the impact of practices or the use of species on biodiversity must be intensified including in countries in which GIs are not notorious. Regarding the social component, participants mentioned the importance to collect more data and develop research on the link with food and diet diversity as a promising area. Likewise, the need for producers to have more elements on economic impacts was recognized as an important aspect to support their engagement. Participants also highlighted the importance of qualitative empirical studies of specific GIs to provide lessons learned and best practices at local level and on the efficiency of underlying management and regulatory systems. At global level, participants highlighted the need for more homogenization of the criteria of validity for the registration of GIs among the different countries. A specific topic for research was also identified in relation with the creation and testing of traceability solutions together with producers and consumers in different situations/regions. c) Practices that are needed for food system sustainability The importance of biodiversity and ecosystem preservation is still not sufficiently addressed in public policies concerning GIs. Inclusion of agro-ecological practices or sustainable production practices in GI products’ specifications should be systematically suggested. The crucial role of collective action from local actors of GI values chains was discussed as a way to ensure successful bottom-up approaches, including in countries where the State has a strong role. In this specific context, the role of NGOs could be key to stimulate the discussion and find compromises, especially in the product specification design. Moreover, consistent actions to promote consumers’ awareness are still lacking. d) Stakeholders whose interests should be prioritized All groups converged in recognizing the central roles of producers in managing GIs, and the importance to empower the more vulnerable ones, including smallholders and women, and their associations. Producers should take the lead in developing the products’ specifications as well as managing the quality and controls, and develop knowledge and capacities on preserving sustainability in all its dimensions. In this context, for smallholders, it was suggested to improve credit systems (better access, favorable conditions) to contribute to reaching a more balanced power between companies and small producers/ cooperatives regarding investments and avoid tensions between the governance of the value chain and territorial governance. It is also important to build awareness among national authorities on the importance of accompanying producer communities in the sustainability pathway, by showing them the interest in preserving local resources, explaining the link between the GI impact on ecosystem preservation, the food and diet diversity and the interest in economic benefits. National authorities should also be supported for creating awareness on GIs among producers and consumers and enforcing GI regulations . Скрыть
Направления деятельности: 1, 2, 3, 4
Ключевые слова: Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Human rights, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment