Research Archive

Do geographical indications promote sustainable rural development? : two UK case studies and implications for New Zealand rural development policy

Research Archive

Do geographical indications promote sustainable rural development? : two UK case studies and implications for New Zealand rural development policy

Williams, R. M.
Type: Thesis
Permalink: https://hdl.handle.net/10182/585
Originally published: 2007 by Lincoln University
Keywords: geographical indication; protected designation of origin; protected geographical indication; sustainable rural development; label of origin; Welsh lamb; Jersey royal potato; agro-food products; trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights

Abstract:

Geographical indications (GIs) are one form of protective labelling used to indicate the origin of food and alcohol products. The role of protected geographical indicators as a promising sustainable rural development tool is the basis for this research. The protection of geographical indications is a rather controversial subject and much research is still required for both sides of the debate. The research method employed for this study is qualitative critical social science. Two Case studies are used to investigate the benefits brought to rural areas through the protection of GIs. The case studies include the GIs Jersey Royal and Welsh Lamb both from the United Kingdom a member of the European Union (the EU is in favour of extended protection of GIs for all agro-food products under the 1994 WTO/TRIPS agreement on geographical indications). Twenty-five indepth interviews were conducted for this study the duration of the interviews was approximately one hour. The study identifies predominantly indirect links between GIs and sustainable rural development, through economic and social benefits bought to rural areas by the GIs investigated - less of a connection was found to ecological elements. No considerable cost for GI protection was discovered. This finding suggests that GIs are worthwhile for implementation in New Zealand as a rural development tool.

Show full item record

Files in this item

[PDF]
Name: williams_mnrmee.pdf
Size: 2.083Mb
Format: PDF

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Search Research Archive


Browse

My Account

Statistics