Belarus workshop explores how geographical indications can support producers and rural development

Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a workshop held in early September in Minsk helped explore how Belarus could further develop its geographical indication system to support local producers and rural development. As part of the FAO project on strengthening sustainable food systems through geographical indications, discussions focused on the main barriers to wider registration and use and on practical measures to strengthen producer cooperation, quality control and promotion. 

For the first time, the workshop on 7 September brought together representatives from national institutions, research organizations, universities and the food industry – including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Culture, Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Belarusian State University, State Institution "National Center of Intellectual Property", and the National Academy of Sciences – creating opportunities for exchange among actors that do not usually work together on geographical indications.

An assessment of the current institutional framework and an inventory of geographical indication potential were developed and presented by national experts at the workshop. The inventory identified more than 50 Belarusian food products, beverages and traditional crafts with geographical indication potential. It forms part of broader project work to inventory Belarusian geographical indications and develop a map and publication based on the findings. 

The recommendations from the workshop will form part of an upcoming FAO analytical report and roadmap for strengthening the geographical indication system in Belarus. Participants were invited to propose additional products and provide comments for inclusion in the forthcoming publication. 

Making geographical indications work

A geographical indication identifies a food product as originating from a particular place when its quality, reputation or other characteristics are closely linked to that origin. Participants broadly agreed that geographical indications are not only an intellectual property tool, but can also support producers, preserve cultural heritage, promote tourism and contribute to rural development.

“Geographical indications can help producers gain additional value through the link between a product and its place of origin, traditions and local knowledge,” said Dmitry Zvyagintsev, FAO Policy Officer and Lead Technical Officer of the project. “FAO recognizes geographical indications as an effective tool for developing rural areas and enhancing the wellbeing of rural communities, and to realize this potential, we support geographical indication producer associations.” 

Belarus already has a legal framework for geographical indications, but their use by domestic producers remains limited. The national register currently includes only three Belarusian geographical indications. 

“We hope to implement the recommendations discussed today so that, at our next event, we can report five or seven domestic geographical indication products that deliver real benefits to producers, regions and the country as a whole,” said Zayaz Aleksandr, Deputy Director of the National Center of Intellectual Property, at the workshop opening.

A central question was why so few Belarusian geographical indications have been registered despite the range of products identified. Key challenges raised included low awareness among producers, limited institutional support, the absence of producer associations, insufficient promotion, and the lack of a dedicated control and certification system.
Proposals included training for producers and local authorities, stronger cooperation among national institutions and local governments, financial and technical support for registration, the development of producer associations, and clearer quality control and certification mechanisms. 

Learning from international experience

The workshop drew on experience from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where successful implementation of the geographical indication system has required collective effort. Key factors included well-organized producer groups, clear product specifications, reliable traceability and control, and collective marketing and promotion.

The experience illustrated the value of cooperation with retailers, restaurants, tourism organizations and local authorities in promoting products linked to a particular place. Participants expressed strong interest in learning from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries that have successfully developed geographical indication systems.