DEVELOPING GEOGRAFIC INDICATION FOR HASI GOAT MEAT (AN APPROACH TO LINK RESEARCH WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT)
Petrit Dobi, Roland Bardhi, Ilir Lloha
Agricultural University of Tirana. Albania
petrit@rasp.org.al
A geographical indication (GI), is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that origin (WIPO, 2012). Developing geographic indication requires a large amount of work in several sectors including applied research, product development, marketing and community development. The BIODIV Balkan project in Albania, have taken the initiative to develop three pilot GI products. The main objective was to support local products and agro biodiversity heritage of the local agrarian systems, crossing environmental injunction for biodiversity conservation with social and economic objectives of rural development. In the case of Hasi goat kid meat, several studies have been implemented including molecular genetics research, morphologic characterization of the breed, identification of characteristics of the product, identification of local pasture biodiversity, identification of specifics of production system that affect quality of the product, pastoral system and feeding practices, etc., that have been the foundation for identification of product’s characteristics attributed to the territory of origin. Based on the product characteristics, territory specifics and human capacities, it was prepared the Code of Practice, which is a document that comprises description of all specifics and all collective rules, to be respected by all group members who want to use the quality mark. Taking in account the complex work, and especially the research needed to identify product specifics, as well as the need for an institution to take the initiative for building GI, the authors consider that research institutions should take the leading role in this process opening a new very applicable research priority.
Keywords: geographic indication; rural development; Hasi goat meat; products specifics; code of practiceovi
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