Meet Our Speakers - Renata Watkin
Name: Renata Watkin
Title: PhD in Law Candidate, University of Ottawa
Education: LLB University of Ottawa; MA, Carleton University; Wine and Spirit Advanced Certificate, Wine and Spirit Education Trust
Q: Tell us a bit about your work: What do you study and how does it relate to or involve the governance of food or food systems?
I am currently pursuing a PhD. My thesis focuses on the regulation of Geographic Indications (“GIs”) in Canada. GIs are signs that indicate that a product’s qualities, reputation or other characteristics are attributable to their geographical origin. In the Canadian context, it is more common to see GIs used for wine and spirits, such as Niagara Escarpment and Vin de glace du Québec, but they are present for other food products as well, such as Agneau de Charlevoix, the first GI for a food product in Canada.
Q: Can you explain how GIs relate to the governance of food systems more broadly?
GIs are really important for connecting food, people and place. At the surface level, they tell you about where in the world the product originated, but the geography of food production goes beyond the natural environment. GIs tell you about the reputation behind the product and in doing so they help consumers know about the quality and characteristics of products originating from a specific region. GIs also inform consumers about the people who produce our food, together with their expertise, culture and the legal systems that regulate food products coming from a particular geography.
Q: Are Geographic Indications primarily relevant to international trade, or are they important for local production and consumption as well?
Canada has traditionally seen GIs as a bargaining chip in negotiating trade deals with other countries. My presentation at this year’s Food Law Conference argues that Canada should instead promote its own products through the use of GIs to consumers in domestic and international markets. When consumers have a better understanding of where their food comes from, it will be easier to promote rural lifestyles and support the vitality of rural economies as well as highlight the unique heritage, culture and generational knowledge that is present in Canada’s food-producing geographies.
Q: You left a career in international trade law to pursue a PhD. Why did you decide to focus solely on academia and this area of food law?
Several years ago, I started lecturing on a part-time basis at Carleton University. I found that I really enjoyed teaching, especially working with students and guiding them through research. This inspired me to pursue a PhD. My past experience working in law and trade made GIs a natural fit for my research.
Q: What is an issue in food law and policy that you feel deserves more attention and why?
I think there needs to be more research done on the fragmentation of food law in Canada. Scholars have already shown that this is an important issue, but there is certainly more work to be done. This is not an easy topic because there are various considerations to be made such as Canada’s federal structure and international commitments, but also the unique nature of the food system as a topic that naturally crosses jurisdictions and traditional areas of regulation. However, research in this area will hopefully reveal better ways of thinking about how the food system should be governed.
Renata will be presenting on ‘Grounding Food Systems: Territory, Geography and Land-use Planning’ on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 9:00am - 10:00am EST