Meet the MFI Alumni - Diana Rotari
After the graduation of the Master Food Identity program, I started working at the National Office of Vine and Wine (NOVW) from Moldova, as the specialist responsible for the management of the PDO/PGI system for the wine sector. The NOVW is a public institution whose mission is to bring added value to the wine industry and to make a proper promotion of the Moldovan wine, both inside and outside Moldova. The first year in the job I was actively involved in the process of harmonization of the local legislation with the PDO/PGI European Regulations related to the wine sector. Afterwards, I proceeded to the management of the GI system, which included a broad spectrum of activities: keeping the record of grape and wine producers, participation to the internal control, authorization of tasters to participate to the commissions for sensorial evaluation of PDO/PGI wine, organization of seminars for PGI associations’ members, keeping the record of certified PGI wine. As a result of all these actions, the production and certification of PGI wine in Moldova started in 2015. Consequently, taking into account that I have a PDO/PGI related job, I have the possibility to apply the knowledge acquired during the FI Master program. The challenge that still remains is to make the most out of the new, interesting information I daily find out about the wine sector.
Protection of GIs from Moldova
The Republic of Moldova has a modest experience in the area of protection of the GIs, but there is a high interest in the development of these quality schemes. The wine sector took the initiative to protect 4 GIs in 2012: 3 for wine (PGI “Valul lui Traian”, PGI “Codru” and PGI “Ştefan Vodă”) and one for brandy (PGI “Divin”). As soon as these PGIs will be included in the EU-Moldova Agreement on the protection of GIs, they will be protected in the EU as well. In 2015, another 3 GIs were registered for the agrifoodstuffs: PGI “Dulceaţă din petale de trandafir Călăraşi” (a specific jam made from rose petals from Călăraşi), PGI “Rachiu de caise de Nimoreni” (a fruit spirit from Nimoreni), PDO “Brînză de Popeasca” (a sheep cheese from Popeasca).
Diana Rotari, Food Identity 4th cohort
Responsible for the management of the PDO/PGI system, National Office of Vine and Wine from Moldova
drotari@wineofmoldova.com
