Protection of Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products : Promoting or Diluting the Value of Sustainable Development Principles

Abstract

          This paper is aimed to examine the protection of geographic indications for agricultural products played a part in the objective of the values of sustainable development, by separating them into two elements: (1) aspects to the promotion of values of sustainable development and (2) obstacles that are incompatible with values of sustainable development. The evaluation of several materials showed that protecting the reputation of that product, which is essential to the producer’s community’s financial advantages as well as the social benefits of being conscious of the information links the distinctive characteristics of the product with its source of indication. Given that the community producer of agricultural products must contribute to keep the financial reputation of agricultural products, the groups who generate them understand that they must contribute simultaneously to preserving the environment as a factor of development. Protecting geographical indications may be used as one of the techniques to achieve an equilibrium between economies, society and the environment, in accordance with the values of sustainable development. However, over time, protected agricultural products may, in order to improve efficiency or to address climate change issues, ruin the quality of the atmosphere using chemical substances. If the agricultural community still attempts to build the original product, it will be a barrier to promoting sustainable development values in the sense of diluting sustainability goals and will have adverse implications for the worldwide society in trying to preserve distinctive characteristics.