The mild climate, with excellent altitude for planting and own characteristics ranging from technical aurk to historical and cultural values in the coffee plantation, ensured the seal of geographical indication (IG) for the region of the field of strands, in Minas Gerais. The title was granted on Tuesday (24) by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), in the category of indication of origin. In addition to valuing and recognizing the differentiated production, the title protects the producer region, due to its specific geographical origin.
Sebrae participated in the entire process of recognizing the production of special cafes in the field of the field of strands. Work began in 2015 with the diagnosis of the potentiality of the territory, which is formed by 17 mining municipalities: good success, Camacho, Campo Belo, Cana Verde, Candeias, Carmo da Mata, Conceição da Barra de Minas, Ibituruna, Nazareno, Oliveira, Songs, Ritápolis, Santana do Jacaré, Santo Antônio do Amparo, San Francisco de Paula, São João del Rei and São Tiago.
Through a methodology developed by Sebrae, several factors of coffee production, including product, method of production, identity, territoriality, governance, economic performance and research involved. Since then, producers have worked on structuring and last year, through the association of cafetereers in the field of strands (ACAA), they deposited the request for recognition at INPI, which has now granted registration.
“We are in celebration, for it is a historic fact for our region. We had a brute diamond that needed to be stoned. So it was hard work to improve our production of special cafes and this recognition would not be possible without the support of Sebrae. Little by little, we were surprised by quality, discovering chocolate, fruity, caramelized flavors, “said Acave’s president Giordany Milani Lage.
According to him, the process to recognize the IG was also important because it enabled producers to feel more valued and proud to be part of the region. With the IG seal, expectation is to attract more attention to the region’s coffee and open market doors in and out of Brazil. “We are already seeing results, but from now on we will enjoy this achievement to further value our product and our region,” he said.
Currently, Brazil has 73 registered geographical indications. Most of them are small business in the agribusiness segment, very different from each other and located mainly in the South and Southeast (60%). In the case of coffee, there are seven recognized IGS, two by denominations of origin (Region of the Cerrado Mineiro and Mantiqueira de Minas) and other cincos by indications of origin (Alto Mogiana, North Pioneer of Paraná, West of Bahia, Pinhal region and Field of strands).
By the end of the year, Sebrae will carry out the survey of 110 regions with chances of winning official recognition as a geographical indication, which confers protection and attracts business opportunity, adding value to products. For the Sebrae analyst, Hulda Giesbrecht, the greatest challenge in the IGS process concerns governance. “In most cases, they are business that are not organized with a focus on a collective purpose. So we need to act in the organization of this governance with the aim of promoting and protecting the territory and the product, “he explained.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.