The project
GI SMART: Geographical Indications’ contribution to smart territorial development and sustainability. Insights for GIs producers, policy makers, consumers and local communities

  • Call: HORIZON-CL6-2023-COMMUNITIES-01-4 – Investigating the contribution of geographical indications (GIs) to sustainable development and optimising support for newly established schemes

  • Duration: June 2024 to April 2028 (48 months)

  • Coordinator: INRAE

  • Consortium: 17 partners from 10 countries

Meet the consortium

Left image : type of GI, country, registered in 9999
Right image : type of GI, country, registered in 9999

Challenges and opportunities

The European food system faces challenges in achieving sustainability, balancing environmental concerns, economic viability and social equity.

Geographical Indications (GIs) recognise and protect a product with unique characteristics, linked to its geographical origin. These products are often associated with the production of public goods, such as biodiversity conservation and contributions to animal welfare, while also preserving cultural heritage and promoting territorial and rural development.

However, the sustainability attributes of GI (in all their dimensions: economic, social, environmental and governance) are still not well assessed and understood: consumers and producers need better recognition and implementation of the sustainability benefits of GIs, while policy makers require robust evidence to refine GI policies for greater impact.

Overarching objective

Assess and strengthen the contribution of Geographical Indications to the EU “Farm to Fork” strategy for sustainable food systems in Europe.

Our approach

To achieve this objective, GI SMART is organised in 4 Research Focus.
Each of them is designed to deliver key results and complementary insights to inform policy recommendations on the recognition of sustainability aspects of GIs, to promote the adoption of these schemes by producers and to raise consumer awareness.

Research Focus 1 Analyse the sustainability of GIs in all their dimensions (economic, social, environmental and governance)

Research Focus 1:
Assessing the sustainability of >3000 EU GIs

This research focus aims to:

  • Provide a detailed analysis of current studies on the impact of GI systems across all aspects of sustainability.

  • Evaluate the sustainability of over 3,000 GI products, considering the economic, social, environmental, and governance aspects of GI food systems.

  • Explore ways to better highlight the sustainable benefits of GIs, including the types of public goods they produce and their value to local communities and society as a whole.

GI SMART will:

  • Develop key indicators to measure the sustainability of GI food systems (SGI-KPIs).

  • Create a questionnaire to assess the perceptions of different stakeholders on the sustainability of European GI food systems.

  • Build a database to compile available secondary data from various statistical sources and track the sustainability of GI systems using SGI-KPIs.

  • Assess the role of GIs in supporting rural sustainability, identifying the determinants that promote or hinder sustainability of GI systems.

Research Focus 2 Identify best practices and highlight the benefits of GI systems for sustainability.

Research Focus 2:
Mapping practices and valorise GIs sustainable outcome

This research focus aims to:

  • Identify and classify different types of GIs systems and describe their respective key practices.

  • Study how different practices contribute to the sustainability of the GIs systems.

  • Explore how GI systems benefit from synergies between the GI scheme and other sustainability-related initiatives.

GI SMART will:

  • Develop a classification system for GI systems based on existing technical data and stakeholder input.

  • Conduct a survey to map practices and analyse the influence on sustainable results of at least 50 GIs.

  • Establish a methodology to guide public authorities in promoting sustainable practices in GI systems by addressing key factors and challenges.

  • Identify best practices to increase the sustainability of GI systems.

Research Focus 3 Explore and benchmark existing policies related to GI agri-food systems.

Research Focus 3:
Exploring and benchmarking policies for GIs

This research focus aims to:

  • Identify and analyse the role of EU, national, regional, and local GI policies and regulations in supporting collective governance and promoting sustainable GI agri-food systems.

  • Identify legal, economic and auditing trade-offs faced when introducing sustainability criteria into GI product specifications and explore alternative strategies adopted by authorities and stakeholders.

  • Assess how general public policies, as well as agricultural policies, act as barriers or enablers for sustainability transitions and collective governance in GI systems across the EU.

GI SMART will:

  • Conduct a cross-country comparative mapping of the institutional GI ecosystems at EU, national, regional and local levels.

  • Analyse the regulatory, economic and legal challenges in current GI schemes to better integrate sustainable outcomes in GI schemes.

  • Analyse and compare the role of EU and national policies and instruments in promoting the sustainability of GIs.

Research Focus 4 Understand the perceptions of consumers regarding GIs.

Research Focus 4:
Improving consumers’ perception to realise sustainable GIs

This research focus aims to:

  • Better understand consumer perceptions of GIs, identifying strategies to increase the demand and willingness to pay for GI products.

  • Gain insights on how to better promote GIs that are aligned with healthy and sustainable diets to consumers, to increase demand and willingness to pay for GI products.

GI SMART will:

  • Design and test protocols to foster dialogue between GI producer groups and consumers using the World Café approach.

  • Conduct an online survey to understand consumer perceptions of different types of GIs.

  • Carry out experimental studies to understand how consumers interpret GI information on food packaging and their responses to messages promoting GIs that support healthy and sustainable diets.

GI SMART phases

The GI SMART project will follow a four-step approach:

1. State of the art

The project will begin by conducting a thorough analysis of the current state of the art in GI sustainability to establish a robust knowledge base (months 1-12).

2. Methodology and pilot testing

Each research focus will develop its methodology and define the pilot test during the first phase of the project (months 1-18).

3. Data collection, analysis and synthesis

During the second phase of the project, the research foci will collect data using the proposed methodologies, analyse them and extract the main conclusions (months 19-36).

4. Policy recommendations and good practices

The insights and findings from the research focus groups will be used to develop actionable policy recommendations and compilations of best practices to advance the adoption and implementation of GI schemes (months 37-48).

In addition, the project emphasises ongoing communication, dissemination of findings and active stakeholder engagement. To support these efforts, the GI SMART Community Platform will be developed and launched to serve as a hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Months 1 to 12

Step 1

Deliver a sound State-of-the-Art on GIs sustainability

Months 1 to 18

Step 2

Define methodology & pilot testing

Months 19 to 36

Step 3

Collect & analyse data, synthesize findings

Months 37 to 48

Step 4

Design & deliver policy recommendations & good practices

Months 1 to 48

Cross-cutting

Communicate and disseminate project results & engage stakeholders

Meet our consortium

4-year
project

17
partners

10
countries

Multi-actor
approach

Coordinator