The Basque Government has approved a resolution that authorizes the modification of the terms of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Gernika Pepper, in order to include organic production among the cultivation systems recognized by this quality label.
According to a statement, this change responds to the request made by the Professional Committee of the PGI and will allow farms dedicated to organic peppers to also benefit from the geographical indication label, while maintaining intact the guarantees of origin, traceability, and quality that define this product.
The Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, has emphasized that, with this modification, it "responds to the evolution of the sector and facilitates that producers who bet on organic farming can be part of the PGI, while reinforcing the value and prestige of the Gernika Pepper".
The inclusion of organic production in the PGI terms recognizes an agricultural model that prioritizes respect for the environment, the protection of biodiversity, and the responsible use of natural resources, in coherence with the sustainable practices that the geographical indication itself already promotes.
The Basque Executive has specified that this is a minor modification, as it does not affect the intrinsic characteristics of the product or the requirements that distinguish the Gernika Pepper, but rather expands the cultivation systems that can be covered by the PGI.
With this regulatory adjustment, the Basque Government aims to strengthen its commitment to "an increasingly sustainable agri-food model," promoting forms of production that combine the obtaining of quality food with the protection of the environment, the conservation of biodiversity, and the responsible management of natural resources.
The inclusion of organic production within the PGI Gernika Pepper also represents a step forward in the institutional strategy to support "a competitive, innovative primary sector committed to sustainability".