‘Because of its size, it’s not worth it!’: The viability of small-scale geographical indication schemes

We analyse the theoretical tenets underpinning geographical indications (GIs) and seek to determine whether the number of producers engaged in them matters. To do so, we develop a qualitative methodology to focus on two small-scale cheese productions located in mountain areas endowed with a GI: Cebreiro (Galicia, NW Spain) and Tolminc (Slovenia). In both instances, just two dairies actively produce the GI-certified cheeses; yet, the two case studies differ greatly. In Cebreiro, the GI is seen as an opportunity for development, but the scant number of producers compromises its sustainability. In Tolminc, the GI is monopolised by one company and offers few benefits for the many disengaged producers throughout the region. We conclude that the number of producers engaged in a GI scheme is not a critical factor in their success; rather, public institutional support and the presence/absence of a GI producers’ management structure are pivotal.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Universities [grant number FPU19/00810] and the European Union's H2020-MCSA-RISE HIGHLANDS.3 project [grant number 872328].S

The Recent International and Regulatory Decisions about Geographical Indications

As worldwide consumer demand for high-quality products and for information about these products increases, labels and geographical indications (GIs) can serve to signal quality traits to consumers. However, GI systems among countries are not homogeneous and can be used as trade barriers against competition. Philosophical differences between the European Union and the United States about how GIs should be registered and protected led to the formation of a WTO dispute settlement panel. In this paper we discuss the issues behind the dispute, the World Trade Organization (WTO) panel decision, and the EU response to the panel decision leading to the new Regulation 510/2006. Given the potential for GI labels to supply consumer information, context is provided for the discussion using recent literature on product labeling. Implications are drawn regarding the importance of the panel decision and the EU response relative to GI issues yet to be negotiated under the Doha Round

From "Free Information" to Its (Geo)referencing and Analysis: The "Costs" of Open Source

ENG-Is it possible, starting from free data or free information, also available online, to get a representation of them on paper, consequently highlight- ing the real spatial component? How to handle normal address lists and to achieve their transformation into geographic coordinates, expressed in lati- tude and longitude? What difficulties come up against and how can we face and overcome them? This contribution, trying to return an updated image of the current situation, highlights potential and critical points of mecha- nisms and procedures rarely accessible in an effective manner. Finally, it dwells on the opportunities offered by information sharing and knowledge since they facilitate the individual and collective growth, the participatory processes and the social justice. ITA-È possibile, a partire da dati o informazioni libere, disponibili anche in rete, ottenere una loro rappresentazione grafica che ne metta in evidenza la reale dimensione spaziale? Come gestire semplici liste di indirizzi e ottenere la loro trasformazione in coordinate geografiche, espresse in latitudine e longitudine? Quali difficoltà si incontrano e come si possono affrontare e superare? Questo contributo, cercando di offrire un quadro aggiornato della situazione attuale, mette in evidenza le potenzialità e i punti critici di meccanismi e procedure volti a ottenere questi risultati. Infine, vengono sottolineate le opportunità offerte dalla condivisione di informazioni e conoscenze in quanto possono agevolare la crescita individuale e collettiva, i processi di partecipazione e la giustizia social

Europe in a global context: Eurogeo and the role of geography and european geographers

EUROGEO is the European Association of Geographers created in 1979, so in 2019 we have celebrated its 40th anniversary. In 2020 geographers celebrate the bicentennial of the foundation of the first Chair of Geography at the University of Berlin. In 2021, the bicentennial creation of the first geographical society in Paris, and in 2022 the centennial of the establishment of the International Geographical Union. Geography is a relative young scientific discipline. For a long a time, there has been a discussion about its scientific status, the diversity of paradigms or national research schools. Despite several voices arguing the end of geography or burring the lines of the discipline, among other reasons because of the revolution of geospatial information, this paper claims that geography is more important today than ever and geography is fashionable. Geography is essential for education and for environment, but also for society, economics and politics: globalization, sustainable development, climate change and technology are at the forefront of the world and European challenges. So, geographer''s international contributions -like EUROGEO does-are also essential to have the better understanding of the present context and to help problem solving and decision-making

Evaluation of the Valley Transportation Authority’s DO IT! Program A “Ladders of Opportunity Initiative” Program Funded by the Federal Transit Administration

The U.S. Department of Transportation has increasingly demonstrated interest in developing programs that will enhance the workforce capacity of future transportation systems. To that end, the Department sponsored the 2015 Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development program, directed by the Federal Transit Administration. This program sought to enhance the availability of skilled workers from targeted groups, including the underserved, underemployed, and/or minority groups into possible transit-oriented career paths. One of the 19 programs selected for funding was the “DO IT!” project proposed and developed by the Valley Transit Authority (VTA). VTA proposed to create an innovative education and training program that focused on attracting and ultimately hiring underserved, underemployed, and/or minority groups in its service area of Santa Clara County. The program was created with two major goals in mind: (1) to enable VTA to work with local youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity to be exposed to a career in public transportation – specifically in the area of transportation planning; and (2) to provide a ladder of opportunity into the middle class which will help strengthen our workforce and our intercity communities by building the critical skillset needed to maintain a competitive and efficient public transportation service. This report provides an evaluation of the “Do It! Program and presents recommendations for program replication or improvement

Origin Related Intellectual Property Rights as Best Policy Option for the Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions

PhDOver the past few decades, the protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) has generated lively debates within the international community and the questions of whether TCEs should be protected by Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and if so how, have been of increasing practical concern for TCEs holders and national policyrnakers in various countries. To date, however, work on the protection of TCEs has progressed slowly, and little has emerged in the way of concrete, binding law. Moreover, those instruments proposed as solutions appear unable to meet the range of concerns raised by TCEs holders and culturally-rich developing countries. Concerns raised by TCEs holders can be classified into four main categories. Firstly, they stress the difficulties they encounter in preventing and/or controlling the commercial use of their TCEs by third parties and in benefiting from this commercial isation themselves. Secondly, they express concerns about the inappropriate and offensive use of their TCEs. Thirdly, they wish to be attributed for their TCEs as well as have the possibility to object to any false attribution. Finally, they emphasise the need to ensure the identification and preservation of existing TCEs as well as their promotion, dissemination and continued evolution. The protection of TCEs was initially envisaged on a copyright model, because of the similarity of subject matter between copyright law and TCEs. However, although copyright law seems well suited to meet some of the needs and objectives of TCEs holders, it is limited in its potential for protecting TCEs. This thesis argues that "origin related intellectual property rights", such as trade marks, certification and collective marks and geographical indications, as well as passing off and laws against misrepresentation appear to be conceptually best suited for the protection of TCEs, because of their specific nature and characteristics. Such characteristics include the fact that they are usually produced within a community, which is often linked to a specific place, and according to traditional methods and know how transmitted from generation to generation, often using raw material from sustainable resources. In addition, this method of protection also seems to accommodate the fact that TCEs are usually already in the public 2 Abstract domain and to take into consideration some of the aims of TCEs holders such as the fact that they would like a protection that is unlimited in time. A system of protection based on origin related IPRs could offer practical advantages for TCEs holders since such category of rights used as such or with minor adaptations would enable them to obtain quick, practical and effective protection. In addition, there would be no need for the creation of a new sui generis IP or IP related system, which would take a long time to establish and may not be politically feasible anyway. The proposed approach will admittedly not address all the concerns of TCEs holders, but it will provide a balanced and workable compromise solution that could satisfy most of their concerns and policy objectives

Linking farmers to markets through valorisation of local resources: the case for intellectual property rights of indigenous resources

Agribusiness,