AL-INVEST Verde Component 3 for Intellectual Property Rights announced the producer groups in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay selected to participate in the mentoring programme specialised in Geographical Indications (GIs). This 6-month programme will combine face-to-face and virtual sessions with the objective of improving the use of GIs, which will help to distinguish agri-food products and promote sustainable development at local and regional level.

The selection process was carried out in close collaboration with institutional partners in each of the participating countries. In Argentina, the programme is supported by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Economy; in Brazil, by the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE) and the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI); and in Paraguay, by the National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI).

The selected producer groups will receive advice on how to document the protection or recognition of their products with national authorities, as well as how to manage products that are already registered or officially recognised.

In Argentina:

• Té Argentino, represented by the Asociación para la Identificación Geográfica del Té Argentino in the province of Misiones and the Northeast of Corrientes.
• Miel de flores de Atamisqui - Santiago del Estero, represented by the Miel de Flores de Atamisqui GI Council in the province of Gran Chaco Americano.
• Pimentón de los Valles Calchaquíes, (paprika powder), represented by the Secretariat of Agricultural Development of Salta and the Civil Association of the Council of the Designation of Origin Pimentón del Valle Calchaquí in the province of Salta.

In Brazil:

• Açaí de Codajás, (açaí berries), represented by the Codajás Agricultural Cooperative Association - COOPCOD, in the state of Amazonas.
• Cocoa and its derivatives, represented by the Association of Cocoa Producers and Chocolate Manufacturers of the State of Rondônia - CACAURON.
• Coffees from the Planalto de Poços de Caldas region, represented by the Association of Coffee Producers of that region, in the state of Minas Gerais.

In Paraguay:

• Bee Honey from the Wetlands of Ñeembucú, represented by the Association of Beekeepers of the province of Ñeembucú.

The first face-to-face mentoring sessions will start in September 2024 and will address specific topics for each selected group. Topics include creating unique product narratives, reviewing specifications and adapting to the requirements of key markets, such as the European Union. They will also discuss the new requirements of the EU's EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in the context of the European Green Deal.

By optimising the use of GIs, producers in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay will be better prepared to access international markets, highlighting the quality, origin and authenticity of their products. This collaboration between EUIPO, through AL-INVmentor, and partner institutions in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, underlines the importance of international cooperation to promote sustainable local development, contributing to more inclusive and resilient economies in the region.