Geographical indications (GIs) allow producer organizations to define and defend collective heritage, food quality, and reputation tied to territorial origin. In Ecuador, the first GI to be declared in accordance with global evidentiary and regulatory standards was Café de Galápagos, which emerged through a French technical assistance program in 2015. Yet since that time, Galápagos coffee producers have been unable to enforce collective standards, maintain control over their lucrative origin name, or enhance the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the sector. To analyze this case study, we apply the framework of the localized agrofood system (SYAL), which highlights the interaction of territorial factors that shape the collective construction and valorization of cultural, natural, human, and symbolic resources. We find that both public and private actors emphasized the Galápagos Islands’ history and physical features to associate coffee with the renown of Charles Darwin, natural history, and charismatic fauna. Yet in doing so, they neglected to valorize producer identities or collective know-how, build a strong collective organization, and institutionalize rules that were viewed as legitimate. We conclude by arguing that the management of collective resources through GI initiatives in the Global South can be made more effective and equitable through greater attention to knowledge, identity, and legitimacy.
