Geographical Indication labels are an increasingly popular alternative among producers and governments seeking to protect the products and producers of their countries. This trend has grown due to the opening of markets and consumers’ increasing desire to know the origin of the products they purchase. A bibliographic review was conducted, including studies on the feasibility of applying quality labels, the associated challenges, and examples. This review identifies the processes involved in obtaining Designation of Origin and presents a positive perspective on their application. It was concluded that obtaining a differentiated quality label can improve production and quality of life, provided that it is the result of an evaluation of the area’s context and the main actors in production chains.
Rural areas are becoming increasingly integrated into the global economy and society. This is due to globalization, technological advances, and greater access to international markets. The relationship between what and where products are produced emerges as a factor of differentiated quality for products that have lagged behind export and local government improvement plans. The area from which products originate gives them their cultural heritage and roots. This gives them a unique quality that allows them to compete with other products already established in the market [
1].
For several years, consumers have been increasingly purchasing ecological, organic, environmentally friendly, and socially enriching products. This has led to the creation of labels and brands that distinguish these products from others [
2].
From 1990 onwards, countries interested in protecting their food products began establishing legal frameworks for their specialty products, excluding wines, which had already been regulated for many years. In some European Union territories, these regulations coincided with projects such as tourist routes, standards, and regulations intended to encourage local development, increase consumption, and publicize these certification labels. These projects promoted territorial rootedness and appropriated producers to their territory, traditions, and know-how [
3].
Appellations of origin are less common in Latin America than in other parts of the world, particularly the European Union. Although these quality labels are becoming better known in Latin American countries, it has had less impact than expected at the local level, as most consumers prefer cheaper products due to the economic situation [
4]. This behavior is also common in many developing countries around the world. In this context, it is important to analyze differentiated quality labels, emphasizing the denomination of origin as a marketing strategy and tool for differentiation in the food industry. It is also important to contextualize this concept in the Americas, whose characteristics differ greatly from those in Europe.
The objective of this work has been to evaluate the implications of the valorization processes of Geographical Indication labels at the world level, focusing on differentiated quality labeling and the scope they have had in the places where they have been applied. Methodologically, a documentary review was conducted from the European and Latin American contexts to identify the strategies employed and the results obtained. The case of Ecuador for the application of quality seals is taken as a point of departure for the discussion of the European versus Latin American perspective.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/encyclopedia5030115
