The 3^rd International Workshop on GIES for OCOP Implementation (2025)

WANG Zhenbo^*  LI Jiaxin  LIU Bingzhi  LI Limin  ZHANG Kefei

Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2026.01.04

September 12?C17, 2025, the 2025 International Workshop on GIES for OCOP Implementation was successfully held in Beijing and Wuyishan City, Fujian Province of China. More than a hundred of participants attended the event, including representatives from 12 countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Fiji, Laos, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan) as well as representatives from the FAO China Office and the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA). The workshop was co-hosted by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS).

1 2025 International Workshop on GIES for OCOP Implementation

The 2025 International Workshop on GIES for OCOP Implementation opened at IGSNRR, CAS on September 12. It was chaired by Professor LIU Chuang who serves as the Director of the World Data System of Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository, Vice Chairman of the OCOP Organizing Group in Asia and Pacific Region for the FAO OCOP (One Country One Priority Product) Initiative, and Co-Chair of the CODATA GIES Task Group (Figure 1). Deputy Director of IGSNRR, CAS JIANG Dong stated in his speech that since the FAO and IGSNRR, CAS signed the Memorandum of Understanding in 2024, the institute has fully promoted the application of the GIES (Geographical Indications Environment & Sustainability) methodology in the OCOP Initiative and achieved remarkable results (Figure 2).

Mr. Carlos Aldeco, FAO China, emphasized in his speech that the application of the GIES methodology is expected to help enhance the recognition, value and market competitiveness of characteristic agricultural products, and highlight their unique regional characteristics (Figure 3).

Mr. Yurdi Yasmi, Director of the FAO Plant Protection Division, pointed out at the workshop that this workshop provides an excellent opportunity for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the application of the GIES methodology through practical and on- site exercises. At the same time, it lays the foundation for the second phase of cooperation between FAO and IGSNRR, CAS helping to expand the influence of GIES in various countries and regions (Figure 4).

The workshop summarized GIES cases in the past year, discussed the technical guidelines for GIES to jointly support the implementation of the OCOP project in the Asia-Pacific Region together with CODATA and related international organizations. Representatives from Bhutan and Nepal shared practical cases of applying GIES to improve the value chain of characteristic agricultural products in their countries, providing replicable and scalable experience models for other countries.

2 FAO-IGSNRR Joint Exhibition on OCOP-GIES

September 13, the OCOP-GIES FAO-IGSNRR, CAS joint exhibition on OCOP-GIES was held at Shougang Park in Beijing (Figure 5). More than 200 agricultural products from China (Jilin, Jiangsu, Shandong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Henan, Hubei, Shanxi, etc.) and countries of the world else (Nepal, Bhutan, Panama, etc.) were exhibited. Through the form of ??case display boards + physical exhibits + images and videos??, the joint exhibition vividly demonstrated the GIES traceability technology system, as well as the habitat characteristics, standard system, cultural value and social benefits of each case product, enabling international representatives and visitors to have a more authentic, in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the new productive forces of GIES.

Figure 5  Site of the FAO-IGSNRR, CAS joint exhibition on OCOP-GIES

3 Wuyi Mountain Case Practice of OCOP-GIES

From September 14 to 16, the case practice of the ??2025 International Workshop on GIES for OCOP Implementation?? was held in Wuyishan City, Fujian Province. At the launching ceremony of the case practice, Professor LIU Chuang pointed out that this year marks the 80^th anniversary of the founding of FAO, the 20^th anniversary of the proposal of the ??Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets??, and the 4^th year of the implementation of both the FAO OCOP Initiative, and the ??Decade Initiative on GIES 2021?C2030??, which was jointly launched by IGSNRR, CAS and the Geographical Society of China. Tea is the representative product of China in the OCOP Initiative, and carrying out the OCOP-GIES case practice in Wuyi Mountain, the birthplace of black tea in the world, at this international workshop has important historical significance.

QIU Min, Deputy Mayor of Wuyishan City, Professor SONG Xianfang, Director of the Geographical Indication Research Center of IGSNRR, CAS, and Tomohiko Ishikawa, FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, delivered speeches successively. QIU Min expressed the hope that with this event as an opportunity, the wisdom of experts and international cooperation will be gathered to promote Wuyi Mountain black tea to the world, and contribute more to the sustainable development of the global tea industry and rural revitalization (Figure 6).

Figure 6  QIU Min, Deputy Mayor of Wuyishan City, delivered a speech

Associate Professor KANG Lei, Professor LIU Suxia from IGSNRR, CAS, and Associate Professor LIU Xingzhao from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University shared the case results and experience with international representatives on the Ancient Tea Gardens of Jinuo Youle Tea in tropical mountainous regions of Yunnan, the Zhushan tea in the low-to-medium mountains of the north subtropical zone in Hubei, and the construction of the GIES on Wuyi Mountain black tea, respectively.

During the 3-day activity (Figure 7), the participants focused on the habitat protection and industrial development of Wuyi Mountain black tea, conducted on-site investigations of

Figure 7  Site of the ??International Demonstration of GIES at the Birthplace of World Black Tea in Wuyi Mountain?? activity

black tea planting bases, received training on data collection of soil, water quality and environmental parameters, as well as inspected the digital traceability technology and management mode of the Wuyi Mountain black tea case, and systematically learned the case experience of various industrial links such as tea planting, processing and sales through in-depth exchanges with local tea farmers and technical personnel which laid an important foundation for the capacity building and global promotion of GIES technology to support the FAO??s OCOP Initiative.

The workshop was successfully concluded at IGSNRR, CAS on September 17 (Figure 8). This workshop is an important practice for IGSNRR, CAS to deepen cooperation with FAO. The two sides aim to use science and innovation technology to promote the implementation of the OCOP Initiative in the Asia-Pacific region, so as to realize FAO??s vision of ??Four Betters??, namely Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life, leaving no one behind. The workshop summarized the achievements of capacity building for the implementation of the FAO??s OCOP Initiative supported by GIES, shared China??s experience and innovative models, and planned the future implementation path, marking that the capacity building project for the implementation of the FAO??s OCOP Initiative supported by GIES has comprehensively reached a new level and demonstrating the common responsibility of FAO and China to promote sustainable agricultural development through the South-South cooperation model.

Figure 8  Group photo of the participants