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Geographical Indications Environment and Sustainability

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Mission and objectives 

  1. Enhancing capacity building on GIES technology application in developing countries, small islands, and ecosystem critical regions;
  2. Accelerating GIES technology free transfer through cooperation between scientific communities and decision makers, particularly between CODATA and FAO and public and private decision makers in regional, national and local levels;
  3. Developing a GIES case cluster and network with dozens of cases focused on challenges and solutions using data driven technology by integration of geo-bio-eco-socio data and knowledge for supporting FAO OCOP initiative in the worldwide and SDGs in developing countries.

Significance 

There are challenges how to balance environment protection and economic development, especially in developing countries, mountain areas and small islands from bottom-up methodology. Geographical Indications (GI) and Special Agriculture Products (SAP) are possible the key resources for local people of the world to reach Goal 1, Goal 2 and Goal 15 of SDGs through domestic and international trade. The data driven and data application cases become more critical. The GI products are value added product, which are particularly valuable resources in developing countries. The TG on GIES particularly will work on open data & knowledge and free technology transfer, as well as case based for SDGs, which will play a special role for implementation of SDGs in developing countries. To serve as background, FAO flagship initiative called the Global Action Plan on Green Development of the Special Agricultural Products (SAPs): “One Country One Priority Product” (OCOP) 2021-2031, the GIES technology free transfer to FAO OCOP partners will help FAO OCOP initiative implementation and success in both national, regional and global levels.

Impact

There will be two outcomes from the task group, one is a dozen GIES case demonstrated and another one is GIES Could services will be online for all. More than 50 GIES cases will be demonstrated during next two years, most of them are from developing countries, mountain region and small islands of the world. All these cases will follow Open Science principle and focused on the target of better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life and leave no one behind. Millions of people from the case region will be benefited both in environment and sustainable development and hundreds of public and private decision makers and research scientists will be benefited in the cooperation in governance ability and research discovery. The GIES Cloud will provide services for data and knowledge sharing including those of ecosystem elements, socio-economic data, management policy and standards, local culture et al., and will help linking GIES products creators and consumers in domestic and international trade. It will be useful tool for TRIPS implementation of international trade between industry and developing countries.

Planned activities and outputs for 2025-2027

For 2026:

  • Report of GIES Support FAO OCOP Imitative in Developing Countries 2023-2025 (example countries: Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia, Panama and China)
  • GIES hands on training in mid-Asia and Africa, May-August, 2026
  • Demonstration to GEO Symposium, 26-28 May 2026, Geneva
  • The Fist Global OCOP GIES Products Exhibition, which will be held from 9-13 September 2026, Beijing, China within CFITIS, Joint organized with FAO, IGSNRR/CAS, Ministry of Commerce of China and Beijing government.
  • International CODATA Workshop on GIES Technology Transfer and Capacity Building, September 2026, Beijing, China
  • Panel Discussion at the United Nations World Data Forum 2026 (proposal to the WDF secretariat), 9-12 November 2026, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

For 2027:

  • International CODATA TG Workshop on GIES Technology Transfer and Capacity Building is planned, the date and location will be confirmed.
  • TG Workshop on GIES at the CODATA Conference, 2027 will be confirmed.

Past Achievements

Since the CODATA TG on GIES was approved in October 2023, the Task Group on GIES has been focusing its efforts to cooperate with FAO OCOP initiative on the following five action lines:

  1. develop the GIES data and knowledge sharing platform;
    • The online platform about the GIES is at: https://www.geodoi.ac.cn/gies_en/Default.aspx
  2. joint international workshop and capacity building;
    • The joint international workshop on GIES Capacity Building was held from September 10-22, 2024 in Beijing, Changzhi, Shiyan and Panshi, China and September 12-17, 2025 in Beijing, Wuyishan, China. The events were focused on: (a) open data and knowledge about the GIES technology and cases; (b) free transfer GIES technology to FAO OCOP partner countries; and (c) develop the data network and GIES cloud for global services. Participants from 22 countries had engaged in field visits and hands-on training to apply these innovative practices to their own agricultural sectors. They also showcase their OCOP products at the 2024 and 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). The FAO Headline news reported at: https://www.fao.org/one-country-one-priority-product/news-and-events/news/fao-launches-new-science-and-innovation-network-to-transform-agrifood-systems-in-asia-pacific/en
  3. GIES technology free transfer and in situ hands on training in supporting FAO OCOP national partners and national projects, including Bhutan, Panama, Nepal and China;
    • GIES technology free transfer and in situ hands on training in supporting FAO OCOP national partners and national projects, including in Bhutan, Panama, Nepal， Cambodia and China. FAO report titled on Nepal pilots innovative geo-environmental traceability for large cardamom at the FAO OCOP Headline news on 09/05/2025 at: https://www.fao.org/one-country-one-priority-product/news-and-events/news/nepal-pilots-innovative-geo-environmental-traceability-for-large-cardamom/en
  4. develop GIES cases coordinating with multi-stakeholders;
    • 28 GIES cases were developed totally, including 14 cases from 2023-2025, all datasets, articles and videos of each of the these cases are listed at the Task Group website at: http://www.geodoi.ac.cn/gies_en. There are 61 research institutes and universities, 47 local government agencies, 50 private sectors and 3 professional communities participated and contributed to the 28 GIES cases. Total investment from all of sources is about USD 1.9 Million during 2023-June 2025, including in-kind investment, contributed by FAO, IGSNRR, case local governments and partners.
  5. outreach and publications.
    • The GIE S was awarded the WSIS PRIZE (2025. e-Science，Nominee).
    • FAO News, 13/09/2024, FAO launches new science and innovation network to transform agrifood systems in Asia-Pacific, https://www.fao.org/one-country-one-priority-product/news-and-events/news/fao-launches-new-science-and-innovation-network-to-transform-agrifood-systems-in-asia-pacific/en
    • FAO News, 20/02/2024, Innovative tools to boost undervalued nutritious foods across Asia-Pacific, https://www.fao.org/one-country-one-priority-product/news-and-events/news/innovative-tools-to-boost-undervalued-nutritious-foods-across-asia-pacific/en
    • FAO OCOP News, 09/05/2025：https://www.fao.org/one-country-one-priority-product/news-and-events/news/nepal-pilots-innovative-geo-environmental-traceability-for-large-cardamom/en
    • Worldwide Perspectives on Geographical Indications Conference, FAO News,18/02/2025. https://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6958/icode/
    • Nepal TV at: https://www.geodoi.ac.cn/WebEn/NewsInfo.aspx?ID=133
    • WANG Zhenbo, April 27, 2025. OCOP-GIES of Nepal case launched in celebration of 80th FAO Anniversary and 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, http://igsnrr.cas.cn/news/zhxw/202504/t20250427_7617850.html （in Chinese)
    • Li, X., Liu, C. MoU between FAO and IGSNRR-CAS on GIES supporting OCOP [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 223229. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2024.03.01.
    • Zhu, Y. Q., Gong Z. Z., Yao, H., et al. GIES case study on Guangfeng Majia Pomelo subtropical low mountains and hills [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 232–250. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2024.03.03.
    • Zhu, Y. Q., Gong, Z. Z., Yao, H., et al. GIES case dataset on Guangfeng Majia Pomelo subtropical low mountains and hills [J/DB/OL]. Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository, https://doi.org/10.3974/geodb.2024.05.07.V1.
    • Yan, L. Y., Yu, L., Ai, Z. F., et al. GIES case study on Le’an Bamboo Shoots subtropical mountains [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 251–266. https://doi.org/ 10.3974/geodp.2024.03.04.
    • Yan, L. Y., Yu, L., Ai, Z. F., et al. GIES case dataset on Le’an Bamboo Shoots subtropical mountains in Le’an County, Jiangxi Province of China [J/DB/OL]. Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository, https://doi.org/10.3974/geodb.2024.09.10.V1.
    • Song, W., Yan, P. Y., Liu, J., et al. GIES case study on Qin County Millet Shangdang Basin [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 267–285. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2024.03.05.
    • Song, W., Yan, P. Y., Liu, J., et al. GIES case dataset on Qinxian Millet Shangdang Basin, Shanxi Province of China [J/DB/OL]. Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository, https://doi.org/10.3974/geodb.2024.12.01.V1.
    • : Zhang, H., Wang, Y. S., Li, X. M., et al. GIES case study on Pingshun Codonopsis pilosula southern Taihang Mountain [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 286–302. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2024.03.06.
    • Zhang, H., Wang, Y. S., Li, X. M., et al. GIES case dataset on Pingshun Codonopsis pilosula southern Taihang Mountain [J/DB/OL]. Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodb.2024.12.02.V1.
    • Li, L. M., Li, C. Y. GIES—Digital transition for people and society [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 318–323. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2024.03.09.
    • Song, X. F. A consensus among EU and China on GIES and education [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(3): 333–337. https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2024.03.12.
    • Liu, R., Zhu, L. X., Li, Y. M., et al. GIES case study on Zhenba bacon northern subtropical mountains [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2024, 8(4): 391–406. https://doi.org/ 10.3974/geodp.2024.04.06.
    • Liu, R., Yu, S. J., Zhu, L. X., et al. GIES case dataset on Zhenba bacon from the northern subtropical mountains [J/DB/OL]. Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository, https:// doi.org/10.3974/geodb.2024.11.03.V1.

Contacts

Co-chairs: 

  • Chuang Liu, Prof. Dr. （China）
    Professor of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research
    Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR/CAS)
    Director of Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository (GCdataPR)
    World Data System (WDS)
    Secretary General of Big Data Working Committee of Geographical Society of China (GSC)
    Vice Chair of FAO “One Country One Priority Product” (OCOP) Regional Organizing Group in Asian and the Pacific
  • Kadambot H.M. Siddique, Prof. Dr.（Australia）
    Hackett Professor of Agriculture
    Chair and Director of Institute of Agriculture, the University of Western Australia
  • Philippe De Maeyer Prof. Dr.（Belgium）
    Permanent Secretary of the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences (RAOS)
    Senior Full Professor Cartography and GIS
    Ghent University
    Department of Geography

The TG Secretary:  

  • Limim Li
    Secretary of Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository
    Regular Member of World Data System
    Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research
    Chinese Academy of Sciences

 

Last updated: 2026-01-16

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