THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
Related Articles
Press release…
FAO shares its approach, activities and publications on Geographical Indications with participants, local authorities and the media at International Geographical Indications Summit…
25 October 2023, Muğla, Türkiye – On 20 October 2023, Muğla hosted the International Geographical Indications Summit to explore the sustainability of Geographical Indications (GI) in the context of the upcoming 4th Regional Consultation on GI for Europe and Central Asia. The summit was jointly organized by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Muğla and the Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network in Türkiye (YÜCİTA). Participants shared their views on a sustainable regional development model combining economic growth and social value, and addressing environmental impacts and climate change.
The summit provided a good opportunity to raise awareness of the value of geographical indications, as a means to convey to consumers that a product is unique to a specific geographical location or origin and possesses specific qualities. Speakers during the summit also emphasized that the geographical, cultural and historical richness of Türkiye, and Muğla in particular, constitute a fertile ground for studies on GI. Among the issues raised during the opening session were the use of GI to protect the traditional products of Muğla and the need for better governance in this field.
The opening speech at the summit was given by Ayşegül Selışık, Assistant FAO Representative for FAO in Türkiye. Selışık emphasized the role of GI in providing income to small-scale farmers and noted that changing consumer behaviour due to urbanization is a lever for the development of GI. She also shared FAO’s activities in the field of GI and FAO Türkiye’s partnerships with relevant organizations such as TÜRKPATENT.
Dmitry Zvyagintsev, Policy Officer from the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia also gave a presentation during the summit providing detailed information of FAO’s activities and publications with the audience.
Throughout the summit, participants explored collaborations, shared best practices and promoted awareness-raising materials celebrating the richness of the Muğla region evidenced in GI products such as Memecik olives and olive oil, Bodrum mandarin and Kofte (Meatball), Muğla pine honey and Fethiye fig, among many others.
Governance issues were the focus of a special panel featuring representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local chambers of commerce from Marmaris, Fethiye and Bodrum. The important contributions of women cooperatives to GI were the subject of a special session where participants shared their experiences of growing Kapıdağ Mor Soğanı (Kapıdağ Purple Onion), a protected red onion.
