The VII European Food Quality Forum was held in Siena, organized by the Qualivita Foundation with OriGIn, OriGIn Europa, Origin Italia, OriGIn France, Origen España and Qualifica-OriGIn Portugal. The meeting was attended by European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen and the Ministers of Agriculture of Italy, France and Spain: Francesco Lollobrigida, Annie Genevard and Luis Planas Puchades.
EUROPEAN ACTION PLAN FROM 2027: focus on pdo and pgi
During the Forum, Hansen announced the launch, from 2027, of an Action Plan dedicated to PDO and PGI products and GI spirit drinks. The plan is defined as a strategic tool to strengthen European rural areas. The objective is to fully implement Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, of which Paolo De Castro was rapporteur.
The European Geographical Indications system today counts 3,485 products, with an estimated value of 80 billion euros. It represents 16% of the Union’s agri-food exports.
THE GREEN BOOK AND THE SIENA MEMORANDUM
The main organizations in the sector presented the Green Book “The Future of Geographical Indications”, which identifies eight strategic priorities for the coming years. The contents were delivered to the European Commissioner together with the “Memorandum of Siena“, a document that summarizes the sector’s requests and priorities.
“The Green Book is a fundamental tool for addressing global complexities,” declared Massimo Vittori, director of oriGIn. “The contribution offered to the European plan aims to be a vision of a polycentric Europe, based on territories,” added Mauro Rosati, director of Qualivita.
THE POSITIONS OF EUROPEAN MINISTERS
“GIs are a pillar of European excellence. We must strengthen their value and recognizability,” stated Hansen. The Commissioner indicated among future measures dedicated campaigns, specific awards for GIs and stronger collaboration with large-scale retail to increase the visibility of certified logos.
Lollobrigida emphasized that “defending Geographical Indications is not protectionism, it is the future“. Genevard defined GIs as “a precious but fragile treasure”, highlighting the risks related to usurpations, health challenges and climate change. For Planas Puchades, “GIs are fundamental for the future of agri-food systems and rural areas”, with a significant economic impact in Spain.
THE SECTOR’S REQUESTS
Riccardo Deserti, president of oriGIn, welcomed the plan as “a coherent step to develop the potential of the new European regulation”. Charles Deparis, president of oriGIn EU, emphasized the need to “strengthen recognizability and expand the GI family”.
Cesare Baldrighi, president of Origin Italia, highlighted the urgency of “intervening in international markets”. Cesare Mazzetti, president of the Qualivita Foundation, defined GIs as “an essential technical asset for competitiveness, traceability and resilience”.
Teresa Pais Coelho (Qualifica-OriGIn Portugal) emphasized the role of GIs as “tools of territorial intelligence”. Federico Moncunill (Origen España) highlighted the value of the Green Book in a time of global geopolitical crisis. Dominque Chambon (oriGIn France) welcomed “with enthusiasm” the announcement of the European plan.
THE WEIGHT OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS IN EUROPE’S FUTURE
The joint participation of European institutions, national governments and international organizations confirms the role of Geographical Indications as a lever for economic development and territorial cohesion. With the new Action Plan, the Union aims to strengthen protection, governance, research and promotion, in a sector that remains central to European agri-food identity.
