Geographical Indications (GIs) carry something powerful: place, people, tradition, and reputation protected in law, but proven in real life. Still, many GI initiatives face the same challenge after registration: turning protection on paper into stronger livelihoods, better market access, and long-term credibility. That’s exactly where the partnership between the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo (IFSP), Brazil, and the Reinforce Intellectual Property Association (RIPA), India, born within oriGIn, is focused.
Our collaboration formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding brings together IFSP’s academic strength and field engagement with RIPA’s practical experience in GI strategy and intellectual property. The goal is simple and serious: help GI ecosystems become more resilient by improving governance, supporting producer empowerment, and building sustainability that can be measured and maintained.
Governance that actually works in practice
A GI’s value depends heavily on how well it is governed. Many associations work hard, but without clear systems, accountability, and consistent monitoring, the GI can lose momentum or worse, lose trust. One of the core priorities of the IFSP–RIPA partnership is to strengthen governance in a structured, practical way.
We are working to institutionalize performance-based evaluation of GI associations using RIPA’s “Metrics That Matter” framework. It is designed to help associations look closely at how they operate: decision-making, participation, compliance, transparency, quality control, and the ability to deliver real value to producers. The idea isn’t to “score” for the sake of scoring it’s to create clarity, identify gaps early, and guide improvements that strengthen the GI over time. This approach fits naturally with oriGIn’s long-standing emphasis on credible, well-governed GI systems.
Sustainability backed by research, data, and cultural value
Sustainability in GIs is not just a buzzword, it’s what determines whether the GI continues to create value ten years from now. Our collaboration supports sustainability in three connected ways: protecting cultural identity, strengthening economic participation, and using evidence to guide action.
IFSP and RIPA are encouraging interdisciplinary research on GI impact, including socio-economic surveys, field studies, and cross-cultural learning. We are also exploring how GIs can connect more effectively with tourism, innovation, and ethical market access without compromising heritage. Importantly, we want GI decisions to be guided by data, not guesswork, so the findings can support policy dialogue and better-designed development programs.
International cooperation that strengthens the GI ecosystem
One of the most meaningful aspects of this partnership is its international character. Brazil and India have rich GI landscapes, and both are navigating similar post-registration challenges. By linking producers, academics, and GI practitioners across regions, we are contributing to a wider GI conversation that is grounded in experience, not abstraction an approach that strongly reflects oriGIn’s mission.
Through joint publications, events, and knowledge sharing, we aim to amplify what works, discuss what doesn’t, and help producer communities benefit from global visibility and stronger support networks.
Looking ahead
As the IFSP–RIPA partnership grows, our focus remains practical: stronger governance, better producer outcomes, and sustainability that can be tracked and improved. We believe this collaboration can also serve as a replicable model showing how academic institutions and IP organizations can work together to help GIs move from registration to real, lasting impact.
Photo caption: A moment from the joint IFSP–RIPA “GI Chaupal” workshop with the Banaras Gulabi Meenakari artisan community in Varanasi on 7th January 2026, highlighting collective dialogue on Geographical Indications, governance, and sustainable livelihoods.
