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Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2015 in Berlin, Germany

"Management of land use systems for enhanced food security –
conflicts, controversies and resolutions"


Tanzanian Food Origins and Protected Geographical Indications

Innocensia John1, Henrik Egelyng2

1University of Dar es Salaam, Economics, Tanzania
2University of Copenhagen, Food and Resource Economics, Denmark


Abstract




Geographical indications can aid in transforming the Tanzanian agriculture-dependent economy through tapping the unique attributes of their quality products like soil, taste colour – and so indirectly contribute to food security through valorisation of non-market values or creation or strengthening of market values.

Consumers worldwide demand more unique origin products featuring a ´connect´ with the land use systems producing particular qualities. Tanzania has demonstrated capacity to tap into the organic world market and has untapped potential for harvesting market value from geographical indications indications - in the same way EU gain billions of Euros per annum from agricultural origin food products registered with protected geographical indications.

This paper presents preliminary results from VALOR – a research project investigating conditions under which Tanzanian origin food producers can add value by incorporating territory specific cultural, environmental and social qualities into marketing, production and processing of unique local, niche and specialty products.

Cases are investigated of the prospects for Tanzania to leapfrog perhaps into exports of geographical indications products, and certainly into allowing smallholders to create employment and build monetary value, while stewarding local food cultures and natural environments and resources, and increasing the diversity of supply of natural and unique quality products and so contribute to enhanced food security.

Rice from Kyela, coffee and sugar from Kilimanjaro, are some of the product cases investigated and provides for in-depth case study, as ´landscape´ products incorporating ´taste of place´. Framework conditions for producers creating or capturing market value as stewards of cultural and landscape values and environments and institutional requirements for such creation or capturing to happen, including presence of export opportunities, are discussed.


Keywords: Food origins, food security, protected geographical indications


Contact Address: Henrik Egelyng, University of Copenhagen, Food and Resource Economics, Copenhagen, Denmark, e-mail: he@ifro.ku.dk


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