Learning from the field: Geographical Indications Environment and Sustainability helped to develop and promote the value chain of Special Agricultural Products in China
Learning from the field: Geographical Indications Environment and Sustainability helped to develop and promote the value chain of Special Agricultural Products in China
In-situ visit of participants to learn the on-site real-time monitoring of a GIES case of Feng County Apple in Ancient Yellow River Flooding Area in Feng County, Jiangsu Province, China
©©UWA/Kadambot Siddique
Feng County, China, 17-18 August 2023 – The field visit in Feng County, Jiangsu Province, China was conducted as Part II of International Capacity Building Workshop on Technology Transfer on Geographical Indications Environment & Sustainability (GIES) for One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) implementation in the Asia-Pacific Region, co-organized by FAO and Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR/CAS).
This field trip aims to equip participants with first-hand experience on GIES application in the field. The GIES cases had already been introduced by Deputy Country Mayor Han during the previous session of the Workshop, now the participants could see with their own eyes the vibrant production areas of NiuBang (burdock), apple and pear, and how GIES had helped to develop and promote the value chain of these Special Agricultural Products (SAPs).
Field visit participants in the Sub-Center of GCdataPR, located in Feng County, Jiangsu Province, China © CAS/Limin Li
Participants also visited the Sub-Center of Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository (GCdataPR), which focuses on data and knowledge applications for SDGs and takes the responsibility for enhancing e-ecommerce for GIES products. Participants were impressed by how GIES improved market transparency for the producers as well as product recognition, while at the same time increasing consumer confidence in the product.
During the visit to Feng County, Prof. Chuang Liu highlighted how an area located in one of the major parts of the Ancient Yellow River Flooding Areas could through human effort, be transformed from a disaster-prone and ecologically vulnerable zone into a fruit basket where 3 GIES cases - Burdock, apple and pear - are flourishing due to a unique combination of specific SAPs and special soil type associated with the flooding areas.
On-site illustration by Prof. Chuang Liu of IGSNRR/CAS of a GIES case
No. 15 of Feng County Pear Trees in Ancient Yellow River Flooding Area
in Feng County, Jiangsu Province, China ©
FAO/Xuan Li