Geographical Indications and Origin Linked Products: Mentorship Programme

GIs serve as powerful instruments for promoting economic resilience by connecting products to their unique origins while safeguarding cultural heritage and biodiversity. Hence, supporting local producer groups has therefore become an important objective of the CarIPI project. During its first phase and thanks to the support provided through its Origin Linked Products (OLP) Mentorship Programme, the project has already led to two GI registrations: the Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan and the Saint Lucia Rum.

Under AWP1, CarIPI continued to support OLP producer groups working towards GI registration and broadened its outreach by identifying additional groups for targeted support. The new edition of the OLP Mentorship Programme was launched at an in-person event held in Belize in March 2026, where the project took stock of lessons learned from the first edition and set priorities for the next phase.

Under AWP2, CarIPI will build on this momentum, continuing to provide mentorship and technical assistance while extending its reach to new producer groups.

Available materials:

• Audrey Aubard, Wendy Hollingsworth, CarIPI - CarIPI Mentorship Programme: Past & New Cohorts: Lessons Learnt
• Benjamin Vallin, European Commission - EU CARIFORUM cooperation on and bilateral protection of geographical indications
• Tamara Mathurin, Registry of Companies & Intellectual Property of Saint Lucia (ROCIP) - Saint Lucia Rum GI Insight from the Intellectual Property Office
• Wendy Hollingsworth, Audrey Aubard, CarIPI - Benefits & Impact of GI Systems
• Marianna Martini, CarIPI - Protecting GIs in CARIFORUM Group of States
• Ricardo Jimenez, CRT - The Tequila Route
• Alfredo Rendon, OriGIn - GIs as drivers of sustainable tourism
• Wil Maheia, Lorenzo Vergani - Case study: Eco-tourism experience with Copalli Rum