Climate change is already having an effect on some production
aspects of geographical indication products
Climate change and its adverse effects on aspects of terroir
such as rainfall, water availability, soil quality, temperature is
already having an effect on some production aspects crucial to what
brings distinctiveness to geographical indication products. These
factors raise questions as to how the formalized rules underpinning
the uniqueness of geographical indications are evolving in the face
of climatological changes.
Planted in the spring, the geographical indication "Piment
d'Espelette" (chilli) of the Basque country is picked by
hand as soon as the fruit turns red, from August to the 1 December.
The process, from the seed to the final powder, follows very
strictly laid down processes. Irrigation is strictly regulated,
with irrigation not allowed after 15 July of each calendar
year.
