The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) is supporting Peruvian cacao producers in protecting their cacao by means of geographical indications (GIs). The IPI recently spoke about supporting the sector at an international cocoa fair in Lima. Cacao has been cultivated in the Amazonas region of Peru for over 5,000 years.
Ceremonial presentation of the GI protection certificate for Cacao Amazonas Perú. Pictured: Alberto Villanueva (President of INDECOPI), Massimo Bloch (Director of Cooperation SECO Lima), Eli Toro (GI Management Organisation Cacao Amazonas Perú). Image: IPI
From 13 to 16 July, Switzerland was the guest country at the international fair for cacao and chocolate (Salon del Cacao y Chocolate) in Lima. Switzerland is currently implementing several cooperation projects in the Peruvian cocoa sector. The IPI presented the Peruvian-Swiss Intellectual Property (IP) Project at the fair, focusing on differentiating cacao through the use of GIs. In a ceremony, our partner organisation INDECOPI (the Peruvian IP office) presented producers with a certificate of protection for the geographical indication Cacao Amazonas Perú.
Scientific studies suggest that cacao originated in the border region between Peru and Ecuador and has been cultivated there for over 5,000 years. The native cacao varieties that are farmed there and also grow wild in the forest are therefore some of the oldest in the world.
Conserving biodiversity
The Peruvian-Swiss IP Project, implemented by the IPI, is supporting producers in this particular region (many of whom are indigenous Awajún) in protecting the native varieties under the GI ‘Cacao Amazonas Perú’. The project also contributes to the conservation of biodiversity in the region of origin of cacao and aims to counteract the tendency to only cultivate the more profitable, commercial CCN51 variety. In addition, Cacao Amazonas Perú performed very well in taste tests compared with other regions. Various European buyers are very keen to import the first GI-certified container of Cacao Amazonas Perú. This is motivating producers to take steps towards certification.
Thanks to Cacao Amazonas Perú, GIs were showcased at the fair as a certification tool that values origin and quality and that offers protection for distinctive cacao.
The Swiss pavilion at the Salón del Cacao y Chocolate. Image: IPI
The IPI and INDECOPI gave a presentation on GIs as a tool for protecting and differentiating cacao at the Salón del Cacao y Chocolate. Source: SECO
Infobox
The Global Program for Intellectual Property Rights is an international cooperation programme funded by the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI). The overall objective of the programme is to help to improve the IP protection systems in the partner countries.
An efficient protection system is important for promoting innovation, creativity, trade relations and sustainable economic growth. As part of the global programme, the IPI implements various multi-year country projects (currently ten projects) on all topics relating to IP.
Indigenous Awajún women with cacao varieties protected by the Cacao Amazonas Perú GI. Image: IPI
