12. Socio-economic benefits from geographic indications in Europe

The schemes for geographic indications of agricultural products and food aim both to improve the economic income of agricultural producers and to provide larger and more informed choice for European consumers. The Mediterranean countries are leaders in terms of registered products with geographic indications. At the same time, the country of origin is not a determining factor for the economic or social success in the registration of a given product.

The studies indicate that a combination of factors is needed to generate socio-economic benefits for the producers, consumers and local communities. These include the specificity of the product, its relevant positioning on the market, successful coordination between the producers in the group as well as favourable legal framework and funding for the initial phases supporting the producers and the group as a whole.