Pimentón del Valle Calchaquí – the third EUIPO-supported origin-linked product in MERCOSUR to gain GI recognition in Argentina

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) acknowledges the significant achievement of the producers of Pimentón del Valle Calchaquí in Argentina, participants in the mentorship programme on geographical indications (GIs) of the AL-INVEST Verde IPR project, in obtaining a GI. This origin-linked product was granted the status of denomination of origin on 15 April 2025, officially recognising the product’s unique qualities, which result from cultivation in the favorable climatic conditions of Salta’s high-altitude valleys.

Pimentón del Valle Calchaquí is the third product supported by the first AL-INVmentor programme of the AL-INVEST Verde IPR project in MERCOSUR countries to obtain a GI. In December 2024, both Té Argentino from the province of Misiones and the Northeast Corrientes and Miel de flores de Atamisqui from Santiago del Estero in the Gran Chaco region were also officially recognised as protected GIs in Argentina (see news).

Paprika from the Calchaquí Valleys in the province of Salta reflects the region's rich traditional and ancestral agricultural heritage. Known for its mild aroma, sweet taste, and vibrant red color with orange undertones, it is carefully sun-dried using traditional methods that preserve its natural qualities, ensuring exceptional authenticity and quality.

Only paprika powder cultivated within the designated area of Argentina—covering parts of La Poma, Payogasta, Cachi, Seclantás, Molinos, Angastaco, San Carlos, Animaná, and Cafayate—using specific production methods can bear the GI designation Pimentón del Valle Calchaquí.

The recognition follows continuous efforts by the local producers, the Secretariat of Agricultural Development of Salta and the Civil Association of the Council of the Designation of Origin of Pimentón del Valle Calchaquí in the province of Salta to protect and promote this traditional product.

These efforts include participation in the AL-INVmentor mentorship programme on GIs, an initiative of the EU-funded intellectual property (IP) cooperation project AL-INVEST Verde IPR, implemented by the EUIPO. The expertise gained through the mentorships, combined with the GI recognition, greatly enhance the market position and competitive edge of the product, while demonstrating the power of collective action.

Through AL-INVmentor, producers gain access to mentorship sessions featuring customized modules on collective strategy and branding, product specifications, governance, control mechanisms, and sustainability. Combining virtual and in-person sessions to deepen the understanding and implementation of GIs as a tool for sustainable growth.

In partnership with Argentina’s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the EUIPO-led initiative supports products in meeting global market standards while preserving their authenticity and cultural heritage. As an international registration authority on GIs, the EUIPO draws on decades of expertise in leading the EU’s international cooperation efforts on intellectual property rights, including GIs.