(AGENPARL) – mer 12 febbraio 2025 FAO Media s[Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated]
International Conference on Geographical Indications (GIs)
FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy 18-21 February 2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) will host “Worldwide perspectives on geographical indications: international conference for researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Innovations and traditions for sustainability” from 18 to 21 February 2025, at FAO headquarters in Rome.
A food product bearing the geographical indication (GI) sign indicates it possesses qualities or a reputation due to its specific place of origin and is deeply tied to the region in which it is produced.
There are over 9 450 GIs all over the world. Many of them have a strong reputation with consumers. All are closely involved in the life of the area where they are produced and contribute to sustainability.
GIs for sustainable development
The conference will focus on “Innovation for sustainability,” exploring the role of GIs in promoting sustainability throughout their value chains.
Bringing together over 350 participants from 52 countries from all over the world, the event will provide a platform for academics, value-chain actors, development and public sector representatives to exchange knowledge and experiences. This will also be a key opportunity to advance international dialogue on GI systems, contributing to the priorities discussed during the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture in September 2024.
The event will kick off with a high-level opening session on 18 February, featuring FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida. This will be followed by two and a half days of technical presentations and discussions, along with one day of field visits.
Cases presented during the conference include the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and the Asiago DOP cheese from Italy, the Arijska malina raspberry, a vibrantly coloured and tasty delicacy from Serbia whose production is rooted in traditional practices, as well as the Madd de Casamance. The Madd is a wild fruit from the Saba liana, which grows in the forests of Casamance, Senegal, and has been recently registered as the first geographical indication of Senegal. Craft GIs will also be presented.
The conference is co-organized by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) of Italy, in collaboration with the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), Fondazione Qualivita, the Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network (oriGIn), Origin Italia – Associazione Italiana Consorzi Indicazioni Geografiche, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE IPI). The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) is also sponsoring the event.
The entire event will also be webcast here.
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Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
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