We are positioning our intellectual property rights to concur with the fourth industrial revolution.  The agri-innovative community and specifically the Montserrat Cocoa Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited has been able to achieve Geographic Indication (GI) for Trinidad Montserrat Hills Cocoa.  We all know of the famous champagne which comes from France and enjoys GI protection.

A first for Trinidad and Tobago this is the third successful application in the English speaking Caribbean following jerk seasoning in Jamaica and Demerara Rum in Guyana.  Even the world famous Blue Mountain Coffee does not have a GI but a certification mark.

This GI, will give protection to the Cocoa produced on the Montserrat Hills and will benefit all the farmers of the Co-operative.  In addition, it will encourage Agri GI Tourism.

exporTT on the wings of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, presented a cheque to the Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Co-operative Society today, for further registration costs and the cost of obtaining protection in the EU and other extra-regional markets.

Pictured above: the Honourable Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon and Mr. Christopher Paul, President of the Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Co-operative Society Limited with Chairman and CEO of exporTT, Ashmeer Mohamed and Dietrich Guichard.