CNA launches notice that aims to guarantee the origin and quality of specialty coffees in Brazil

The CNA Institute, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) and the Brazilian Industrial Development Agency (ABDI) launched, on Monday (27/03), a public call for the development of a digital platform for Geographical Indications (GIs) of coffee.

The notice, aimed at small businesses, aims to develop a digital management, control and traceability system, to be used by managing entities and producers of coffee Geographical Indications (GIs). Interested parties have until May 5th to register.

“The platform aims to manage and control products and transparency for the consumer, who will know where the coffee came from, how it was produced, what we call traceability. The notice is important to reinforce governance in the area of ​​GIs, the control of national products and the promotion of differentiated products of Brazilian origin”, highlights the technical advisor at the CNA Institute, Marina Zimmermann.

The public call foresees the selection of five projects from the total number of entries. Each of the selected companies will have two months and R$20 to develop their preferred minimum viable product (MVP). The winning MVP proposal will receive the amount of R$800 and will have a period of ten months to deliver the finished platform.

Geographical Indications (GIs) are collective tools for valuing traditional products linked to certain territories. They have functions of adding value to the product, protecting the producing region and local biodiversity, while promoting more inclusive and fair production chains for the local community.

According to the Industrial Property Law, Geographical Indications are divided into two types - Indication of Origin, characterized by being an area known for the production, extraction or manufacturing of a certain product, and the Denomination of Origin, a species where the characteristics of that territory add a difference to the product produced or extracted there.

Brazil currently has 13 registered GIs for specialty coffees, eight of which are Indications of Origin and five are Designations of Origin. “The initiative is unprecedented in Brazil and aims to give more visibility and expand the specialty coffee market, both nationally and internationally, in addition to enhancing references such as quality and origin of beans produced in the country”, says Marina Zimmermann.