GI Producers Report Resilience Despite Rising Costs

A global alliance of geographical indication groups said on Tuesday that the sector remained resilient in 2025 even as rising costs, trade tensions and a cautious economic outlook weighed on producers across wine, spirits, agricultural goods and crafts.

The alliance, oriGIn, released the fifth edition of its annual GI Trends Survey, based on responses from 32 GI groups in 20 countries across five continents. The survey covers a panel that includes large names such as Champagne, Scotch Whisky and the Swiss watch industry, along with smaller groups tied to products like Kona coffee and Queso Villa Rica. Together, the surveyed groups reported €73.1 billion in turnover, €58.9 billion in exports and 638,982 direct jobs. They also said they covered more than 1 million km² of land and drew about 13.8 million visitors a year.

The results showed a split picture for sales in 2025. Forty-two percent of the groups said sales increased from the previous year, while 39% reported declines. The rest said sales were stable. OriGIn said the pattern reflected pressure from tariffs, trade frictions and geopolitical uncertainty.

Production costs rose for 77% of respondents, while only 6% reported lower costs. Even so, 78% said their workforce stayed stable in 2025, suggesting that many groups chose to protect jobs despite tighter margins. Direct employment across the panel reached 638,982 jobs.

The survey also found that GI groups expect a difficult year ahead. Forty-eight percent described the overall economic outlook for 2026 as unfavorable, compared with a smaller share that saw conditions as favorable. The main concerns were tariff risks, geopolitical instability and persistent cost inflation.

This year’s survey placed special focus on GI groups themselves, which oriGIn described as the backbone of the system. The organization said 77% of the groups reported high or very high member involvement in strategic decisions, reflecting a collective governance model in which producers play a direct role in setting priorities. Seventy-one percent rated their governance as effective or very effective.

The survey found that 48% of the groups represent all producers in their sector, while another large share represents more than two-thirds of producers. Membership fees were the main source of funding for 78% of groups, with public support and regional or international funding playing secondary roles.

Promotion and marketing ranked as the top activity for GI groups, followed by legal protection. Those same two areas also dominated spending priorities. Market presence and legal protection were listed as the leading strategic goals for 2026.

Riccardo Deserti, president of oriGIn, said in a statement that GI groups were “a pillar of the GI system” and that they remained committed to protecting names, expanding markets and serving members despite a difficult global environment.

The survey also pointed to tourism as an important source of value for GI regions. The groups surveyed said they attracted an average of about 13.8 million visitors annually to facilities linked to GI production, a figure oriGIn compared with annual tourist arrivals in countries such as Greece or Austria.

OriGIn said it would use the findings to guide advocacy and capacity-building work for GI associations worldwide, especially smaller groups facing regulatory pressure, market access problems and limited financial resources.