This document outlines a study on how local actors create origin food labels (OFLs) in response to globalized food systems and their contributions to sustainable territorial development. It presents the research objectives, questions, and theoretical framework. Two case studies are described: a Protected Designation of Origin for Merina sheep cheese from Grazalema, Spain and a quality label for Texel lamb from Texel Island, Netherlands. Lessons are discussed around how OFLs help local producers compete globally and improve livelihoods while coordinating sustainable practices.

1. Labelling the origin food products:
Towards sustainable territorial development?
Ignacio López Moreno
PhD candidate at the Rural Sociology Group
Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

2. Outline
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Framework and Methodology
3. PDO Queso de Oveja Merina de Grazalema
4. Echt Texels Lamsvless
5. Lessons for the future
6. Conclusion

3. IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn

4. Introduction
Research Objectives:
1. To study how local actors create OFLs as a
response to the globalized agrofood systems.
2. To analyse the contribution of these labels to the
sustainable development of the territory.
3. To research how local institutional context
affects and is influenced by these processes.

5. Introduction
Research Questions
1.How do local actors construct new products to compete in
the globalised agro-food system? Are new markets created?
2.How does the creation of the label affect the internal
relationships of the supply chain? How are the relations and
processes of circulation being actively reorganised in order
to improve the livelihoods of those who are involved? What
kinds of coordination are enhanced?
3.What kinds of changes do local actors have to implement
in their practices to join the initiative? How do these new
institutional agreements affect the co-production and co-evolution
of their territories? Does sustainability increase?

6. Introduction
Research Questions:
4.How do these initiatives engage with other actors and
networks in the territory? Does synergy or coherence
increase? How do these initiatives influence or affect the
broader structural context?
5.How do local institutional context and cultural patterns
affect local actors in the design and implementation of the
labels? What constrains can be identified in each case.
6.Who are the critical actors and how can the number of
famers involved in this kind of initiatives increase? What can
be the social, political, institutional and economic
arrangements, programs, or interventions that might
stimulate further dissemination?

7. Theoretical Framework
Co-production
Co-evolution
Territorial
development

8. Theoretical Framework
Quality Food
Labels
(QFLs)
Social impact
(Fair trade)
Environment
al impact
(organic,
biodynamic)
Origin Food
Labels
(OFLs)
Traditional
product
(PDO)
Specific
territory or
communit
y

9. Theoretical Framework

10. PDO Queso de Oveja Merina de Grazalema

11. PDO Queso de Oveja Merina de Grazalema

12. Observational Units
Household
Economy
P T
D C
Globalised
Agrofood System
Self-regulation
Government regulations
92/46 EEC
P
T
D
C
Own Flock
Buy Milk
Manual
Mechanical
Short Chain
Long Chain
Local Consumption
Global Consumption
Localised
Agrofood System
Artisan
Industrial
AVOIDED

13. PDO Queso de Oveja Merina de Grazalema

14. PDO Queso de Oveja Merina de Grazalema

15. Case study 2: Echt Texels Lamvless

16. Case study 2: Echt Texels Lamvless

17. Case study 2: Echt Texels Lamvless

18. Case study 2: Echt Texels Lamsvless

19. Case study 2: Echt Texels Lamvless

20. Critics?
Sugestions?
Lessons for the future

21. Lessons for the future
1. How do local actors construct new products to compete
in the globalised agro-food system? Are new markets
created?
2. How does the creation of the label affect the internal
relationships of the supply chain? How are the relations
and processes of circulation being actively reorganised
in order to improve the livelihoods of those who are
involved? What kinds of coordination are enhanced?
3. What kinds of changes do local actors have to
implement in their practices to join the initiative? How
do these new institutional agreements affect the co-production
and co-evolution of their territories? Does
sustainability increase?

22. Lessons for the future
4. How do these initiatives engage with other actors and
networks in the territory? Does synergy or coherence
increase? How do these initiatives influence or affect the
broader structural context?
5. How do local institutional context and cultural patterns
affect local actors in the design and implementation of
the labels? What constrains can be identified in each
case.
6. Who are the critical actors and how can the number of
famers involved in this kind of initiatives increase? What
can be the social, political, institutional and economic
arrangements, programs, or interventions that might
stimulate further dissemination?

23. “This sheep has always been here, even before
all these policies and politicians, and she will
be here when they disappear.”
Critics?
Sheepherder, 75 years old
Sugestions?