The European food system, to achieve sustainability, must face several new challenges while balancing environmental concerns, economic profitability, and social equity.
In this regard, the European Union has always paid particular attention to the policies regarding quality schemes for the protection and enhancement of specific products linked to their geographical origin in the agri-food sector. The new EU GI regulation 2024/1143 introduces two articles especially dedicated to the sustainability of GIs: Article 7, which outlines the sustainable practices producers can adopt, and Article 8, which introduces the concept of the Sustainability Report. However, regarding the sustainability of these GI products, for all its dimensions — economic, social, environmental, and governance—there is a need for a systematic and comprehensive assessment in addition to an effective communication strategy.
As part of this perspective, in June 2024, the Horizon Europe project GI SMART – “Geographical Indications’ contribution to smart territorial development and sustainability. Insights for GIs producers, policy makers, consumers and local communities” was launched. The project has as its main objective the assessment and strengthening of the contribution of the GIs to the EU “Farm to Fork” strategy, and, consequently, the improvement of their design and implementation.
The project brings together more than 17 public and private partners from 8 European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain) and from 2 extra-UE countries (UK and Switzerland), among which oriGIn. Within this project, partnerscontribute to specific activities related to the measurement of the four-dimensional sustainability of Geographical Indications, the mapping sustainable practices present in GIs supply chains, the exploration and comparative analysis of policies relating to GIs, and the improvement of consumer understanding.
The work carried out during these 4 years (2024-2028) will lead to the delivery of policy recommendations and three strategic guides: for GI producer groups, for policymakers, for improved marketing of GIs.
As a core element of this project, there is the active involvement of stakeholders, with a specific focus on GI producers.
For this purpose, the GI SMART Community Platform was created, designed to promote interaction, dialogue, and collaboration among different actors interested in the sustainability of GIs. It will also be helpful for collecting feedback and contributions useful for the activities of the GI SMART project. The main benefits for GI producers who participate in this initiative are connecting producers with sector experts and other professionals, having access to GI SMART resources and contributions, and participating in the co-creation and validation of GI SMART results.
This initiative is structured into two levels: a European level, with a global platform, and a national level, where, for France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, and the UK, there will be country-specific multi-actor platforms.
More information on the GI Smart is available on the project website here .
In Italy, the first meeting of the national Multi-Actor Platform (IT-MAP) took place on 26 May 2025, coordinated by the University of Parma and the University of Florence, in collaboration with AREPO.
The meeting brought together recognised GI producer groups, representatives of control bodies and representatives of regional and national public authorities. This first meeting covered the presentation of the GI SMART project and the community platform, stakeholders’ expectations, and an initial discussion of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143.
Following this first meeting, a second meeting will be held on February 11 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry, with a specific focus on the “Sustainability Report” introduced by Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143. The discussion will provide an opportunity for different actors within the GI system to share their perspectives on current sustainability challenges and future steps to take, as well as receive updates on the progress of the GI SMART project. The event will be held in hybrid format.
For more information and registration, read the press release HERE
