Labeling terroir products: The case of Taliouine saffron

Abstract

In a context characterized by the increasing standardization of agricultural products and the growing emphasis on differentiation strategies, terroir-based products are attracting rising interest as drivers of territorial value creation. Within this framework, this article examines the case of Taliouine saffron, an emblematic product benefiting from a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the role of terroir and labeling in enhancing the value of this product, highlighting their economic, organizational, and territorial implications. To this end, the study is based on a narrative literature review, adopting a conceptual and analytical approach. The analysis highlights, on the one hand, the polysemous nature of the terroir concept, understood as a combination of geographical, social, and identity-based dimensions, and, on the other hand, the distinctive characteristics of terroir products, particularly in terms of typicity and territorial embeddedness. It also emphasizes that the labeling of Taliouine saffron contributes to the economic valorization of the product, the structuring of the value chain, and the strengthening of local identity, while raising challenges related to governance, standardization processes, and the inclusion of small-scale producers. By exploring the interconnections between terroir, labeling, and sustainable territorial development in the Moroccan context, this article contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the valorization of terroir products, with a particular focus on the case of Taliouine saffron.

Classification JEL : Q13

Paper type : Theoretical Research