CarIPI GI Mentorship mission to Trinidad and Tobago

From 10 to 13 November 2026, CarIPI carries out a mission to Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO), as part of the GI Mentorship Programme under activity 12 of the second annual work plan (AWP2). This activity provides technical assistance to producers of origin-linked products (OLPs) to help them choose the most appropriate IP tools to protect and add value to their products, with an initial focus on preparing cocoa producer groups for Geographical Indication (GI) protection. The first part of the mission will focus on “Trinidad and Tobago Trinitario fine flavoured cocoa”. Working sessions in Trinidad and Tobago with cocoa producers, agro-processors, government agencies, research institutions and other stakeholders reviews the draft product specification and introduce the code of practice and governance structure for a future GI. Site visits to cocoa estates and producer groups in both islands helps verify production and post-harvest practices, and meetings explore the potential of other IP tools for the sector.

The mission concludes on 13 November in Moruga, where CarIPI and TTIPO meet producers from the Moruga Hills area to review the draft specification, elaborate a code of practice and governance framewok, seeking consensus and finalising technical assistance on the most suitable protection tool for their rice product, including options for collective IP frameworks. Producers of scorpion peppers in the region are also invited to discuss the potential benefits of GI protection for their product. Overall, the mission aims to verify the information needed to develop the specifications and codes of practice, strengthen relationships with producers and national institutions, expand the list of stakeholders along each value chain, and identify training and capacity-building needs.