Agricultural Geographical Indication in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: A Case Study of Jeeraphool Rice From India

ABSTRACT Geographical Indications (GIs) have the potential to promote sustainable development by supporting economic growth, environmentally friendly practices, and food security. So far, the Indian GI framework has remained primarily focused on origin protection and economic rights; therefore, India's Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, lacks explicit sustainability criteria. This paper broadly examines the potential of Indian GIs to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explores Jeeraphool rice GI from Chhattisgarh, India, as a case study to analyse how agricultural GI particularly contributes to the targets of SDG 2, which include food security, sustainable farming practices, and technology adoption. The study advocates for integrating sustainability criteria within the Indian GI framework, offering targeted recommendations based on empirical insights to strengthen sustainable practices and GI governance.