Of Geographical Indications and Wars: What the Specifications Tell Us about the Impact of Military Conflicts on French PDOs

Abstract

Historical developments such as wars significantly impact geographical indications (GIs) and their terroir. Wars can destroy vineyards, dismantle production tools or deprive agriculture of its workforce by mobilising civilians. However, academic literature often approaches the impact of wars on GIs as anecdotal evidence rather than an object of study. This article aims to fill this research gap by examining the impact of World War I (WW1) and World War II (WW2) on French protected designations of origin (PDOs). This is done by applying quantitative and qualitative research methods to the specifications of all French PDOs that were registered in the European Union as of 23 November 2022. A total of 43 PDOs affected either by WW1, by WW2, or by both were identified. While the research understandably identifies mostly negative impacts (e.g., manpower shortage or production decline), one unexpected finding is that wars also had a positive impact on some French PDOs, including an increase in consumption and a growth in reputation beyond the original region of production.