Instituting Geographical Indications in Vanilla and Sesame Production in Uganda: The Role of Producers

Open AIR (African Innovation Research) Network
Study on Geographic Indicators of Specialized Agricultural Production in Uganda
Co-researched with Tesh Dagne

Geographical Indications (GIs) are a form of intellectual property rights that are uniquely European in origin. Although the level and method of GI protection has long been a simmering issue between the European Union and the United States at the international level, African countries have recently paid attention to GIs as potential tools to protect their traditional knowledge of agricultural production.

Given the increasing interest to GIs across Africa, the overriding research objective of this case study is whether and how GIs can be used as strategies to increase the competitiveness of local economic systems and to integrate local needs anchored in tradition, environment, and participation in agricultural production. This case study will attempt to define the unique features of an “African-oriented” GI that enables local producers, collectors, and exporters of agricultural products to fairly participate in the global economy.

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