Protection of geographical indication: a study of the " Aegean cotton mark"

Abstract

In the last decade, geographical indication (GI) has emerged as one of the important instruments of intellectual property protection in agriculture sector. Geographical indication is a sign indicating the origin of a product that possesses a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to the place, area, region or country of origin. In the post liberalization process, pressure of economies of scale in the production of standardized and simplified products over small or medium sized producers has been increasing in agriculture sector. Along with this pressure, farmer‘s share of the added value of the final product decreased over time. Basically, geographical indications offer an important setting to local actors for a struggle to capture a high proportion of added value derived from local characteristics. In that context, the case study of Aegean Cotton GI is presented through the global commodity chain analysis. It is examined how this GI was adopted and developed as a strategic tool by local actors in response to cost-price squeeze which has intensified with the liberalization of agriculture policies. This study also aims to discuss some implications of the definition, promotion and marketing of this GI product particularly with respect to the organization and governance of commodity supply chains. In that sense, it is argued that GIs are reconsidered not only as quality schemes, but also as new tools of governance for localized production systems.