| Summary: | Geographical Indications (GIs) are labels that recognize products with specific identities, linked to the environmental and cultural characteristics of their places of origin. In this article, we explore the relationship between agrifood GIs and environmental sustainability, based on an integrative review of the scientific literature. In theory, GIs related to agrifood products are recognized for favoring more sustainable production systems and are part of a set of strategies that aims to counter the notion of food as commodities and promote territorial development. From a systematic search, 28 studies with empirical evidence of the results of GIs were selected and analyzed. We identified 16 positive and 5 negative environmental effects, with the positive effects prevailing in the global North, and the negative effects being more common in the global South. We also identified six factors that favor the emergence of positive effects. Considering that there are around 65,900 GIs and that their creation is being stimulated by national governments and international bodies worldwide, it is evident the need to expand studies about how GIs relate to sustainability outcomes and acknowledge the complexity of using this strategy, especially in the global South. We hope the results presented can be applied to guide both the processes of creating new GIs and the management of existing ones, embedding them into broader strategies to promote sustainable territorial development.
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