CEST2025

Geographical Indications (GIs) are widely recognized for their economic and cultural value in the agri-food sector, yet their role in promoting environmental sustainability remains underexplored. This study investigates whether GIs drive green innovation across 245 NUTS2 regions in the EU-27 and Norway from 1996 to 2017. Utilizing a fixed-effects econometric model within the distance-to-the-frontier framework, we analyze the relationship be-tween GIs and green technological advancements. Our results show that GIs facilitate green innovation diffu-sion, particularly in agricultural sectors and in regions further from the technological frontier. This effect is more pronounced in less developed areas, where GIs act as catalysts for sustainable technology adoption. Converse-ly, in advanced regions, the impact of GIs on green inno-vation is weaker or even negative. These findings suggest that GIs not only preserve local agricultural traditions but also support the EU’s Green Deal objectives by promot-ing green technologies in disadvantaged regions. Poli-cymakers should harness these spillover effects, integrat-ing GIs into broader sustainability strategies to enhance environmental and economic resilience. This research contributes to the literature by offering empirical insights into the environmental potential of GIs as tools for foster-ing regional sustainability and technological progress.