Currently there are 99 UK protected food and drink names officially registered under Geographical Indication (GI) schemes which protect producers of iconic foods and drinks, from the famed Melton Mowbray Pork Pie to Scotch Whisky.

The new GI SMART Community platform provides access to resources and peer-to-peer support to improve marketing strategies and realise societal benefits of GIs .

Coordinated by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise based at Newcastle University, the UK platform offers producers of food and drink with protected status, or those seeking it, a one-stop online hub for support, collaboration and insight.

Dr Barbara Tocco, Principal Research Associate at the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) at Newcastle University, who manages the UK platform said: “Protected status, known officially as Geographical Indication, can raise the awareness and prestige on national and overseas markets of these fine and unique products, which are an important part of the UK’s food heritage. Yet levels of consumer awareness and understanding of labels for these products in the UK are lower than in other European countries, despite the increasing importance of provenance and sustainability in driving consumers’ food and drink purchases.”

Supporting the growth and recognition of producers

The platform has been created to support the growth and recognition of producers as part of a Horizon Europe-funded project, GI SMART.  Open to all UK producers and trade groups, consumer organisations, control bodies, policymakers, researchers and other interested stakeholders, the national platform also connects with an EU hub, managed by the Association of European Regions for Products of Origin (AREPO). 

In addition, the GI SMART Community platform offers:

• Access to an exclusive network of experts and peers
• Cutting-edge research on GI sustainability and consumer behaviour
• Tailored tools, resources and best practice examples to support sustainable GI practices
• Opportunities to collaborate and help shape policies at national/ EU level

Professor Matthew Gorton, Professor in Marketing, Newcastle University Business School, added: “This project presents us with a great opportunity to realise the potential of protecting the unique food and drink products that we love across the UK.

“We will work with producers who have, or are seeking to obtain, protected GI status, which can contribute to sustainable development.  From research to innovation activities, we’ll be working alongside GI producers and wider society to improve consumer perceptions and inform better design of policies.”

UK Government registers held by DEFRA include food products with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, as well as protected spirit drinks and wines.  

Producers and other stakeholders can find out more and sign up to the platform at  https://arepo.limesurvey.net/654448.