Product quality and anchoring to the terroir: the case of the Massif Central AOC cheese sectors

Abstract

Cheese brands having an « Origin Verified Designation » (OVD = label of quality) represent high economical stakes for the « Massif Central » area and the « Auvergne » region especially. Ten cheese brands with OVD designations from the « Massif Central » area accounted for 65 000 metric tonnes in 1996, which made this area, with 38% of the national tonnage, the first regional area concerned with cheese OVD designations. The manufacturing development and improvement of the cheese quality with OVD designations are approached within two Research-Development hubs (Sensitive Area Hub and «Massif Central» OVD Cheesemaking Hub), of which some research examples are described in this text. As regards the link between product and native soil, there now exists objective elements which enable the showing of the effect of some prime factors on the sensuous characteristics of cheese types such as the flower diversity on grasslands for instance; others fall more under the production system such as fodder preservation method and physiological state of animals ... One has next to wonder about the technical and economical viability of these production systems. Finally, a tool for identification and analysis on milk-dedicated soils has been developed. In crossing the characteristics of physical environment and animal husbandry, it may gradually enrich the results of the previous studies. The notion of quality by the consumer has also been the subject of research work, within the scope of the RIPPLE European programme which was launched in 1997. This programme is on « regional images and the promoting of quality products and services » and aims to develop recommendations on the policies to set up in this field for the development of disadvantaged rural areas. For some years, the awareness of a necessary rationalisation for these productions and a stronger assertion of their relationship to native soil has brought hope for the future. It should enable an increased economic development while preserving their quality and their positive image. The repercussions in terms of employment and therefore of local development are factual.