PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION PROJECT INVOLVING FEIJíO-MANTEIGUINHA DE SANTARÉM

Abstract

Motivated by the original possibility of a Geographical Indication (GI) product in the western state of Pará and its potential benefits for local producers, this paper carries out a preliminary assessment of the GI project involving the beans traditionally known as Feijão-Manteiguinha de Santarém – a variety of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp beans cultivated in Santarém in state of Pará, Brazil. The study of the conditions in which this project is emerging – via an ethnographic field work – allows identifying its main actors and their respective ways of working, which unveil likely potentials and limits in regard to the current proposal. Representatives of the public and private sectors linked to the project enthusiastically expressed their interest in it, but the local producers absolutely lack the necessary knowledge in connection with it. Thus, some important criteria for the issuance and management of a GI seal – which have been extensively treated and discussed by the literature on the topic – must still be met. Considering the necessary requirements for carrying out this initiative, it can be said that the Feijão-Manteiguinha from Santarém is not yet ready to receive this distinctive sign.