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In a country like India which is unique for its culinary diversity, food has several functions beyond nutritional value. It represents core cultural, region-climatic, beliefs and has taken a centre stage in the tradition in various communities. As such unique foodstuffs have given places their identity and vice-versa. In order to protect the vast bio-resources as well as traditional and cultural aspects, Geographical Indications (GI) protection is the most effective form of protection to protect both the product and the interests of the communities. Since the implementation of the GI Act 1999, only seventeen foodstuffs had acquired GI registration in India. The registration of the products as GI is a first step of the protection process, but post registration fostering GIs is equally important to conserve and preserve the GIs. GI is an important tool for the developing countries, the origin – linked products are intensely associated with the specific local resources as well as the community. GI protection not only adds values to the production system, rather also creates a synergic relationship between the economic and social pillars of sustainable development. In view of the policy and law context, the present study aims to provide an analysis of the foodstuffs GI in India, their socio-economic impacts and suggestive framework to foster the products and develop the community. Further, the relevance of foodstuff GIs in the overall sustainable development with respect to economic, social, environmental, cultural and other impacts in India are discussed by case studies of selected foodstuff GIs. The producers of selected foodstuff GIs were interviewed and analysed to understand the impact of the GI registration on the food products. Then we explore the potential impacts of GI registration on the sustainable development through the data collected through observing and interviewing the producers and the communities attached with the production practices and livelihood dependence on food GIs. Registered foodstuff GIs have been considered for the purpose of the study. The analysis revealed interesting insights into the registration, post registration challenges associated with these GI and certain key aspects that need to be considered from a policy perspective to foster the GI. The authors in this study finally summarises the sustainability impact and proposes some measures to promote the sustainable development of foodstuff GIs in India.
