Geographical Indication of Agricultural Products: the Current Situation and Prospects for Family Farms in Brazil

A geographical indication is a means of protection for products originating from specific geographical areas. It gives a specific form to a strategy enabling agricultural producers to maintain the viability of both the production and commercialization of their goods. In Brazil, the Vale dos Vinhedos in the state of Rio Grande do Sul was the first region with a recognised geographical indication. At the moment, there are thirty products in the country with geographical certificates and eight with certificates of origin. The growth in certification of agricultural products, mainly from family farms, is valued as an important strategy for the productive and economic regeneration of rural areas. The future prospects of small producers, when awarded a geographical certificate, are linked to the good reputation of certified products among consumers. In the territorial field, geographical indication has contributed through cooperative governance to the building of regional policies for rural development.