The EXEA Museum is pleased to announce a remarkable achievement for Rio Grande do Norte's salt industry: the approval of the "Salinas Sustentáveis" (Sustainable Saltworks) certification trademark by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI Brazil). This innovative initiative emerged as a technical-technological product of the master's research conducted by Associate Researcher and Legal Director, Giovanna Wanderley, in collaboration with PROFNIT Brazil, and with the support of the Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid (Ufersa) and the Sustainable Saltworks Project. It promises to transform how salt from Rio Grande do Norte is produced and perceived.

It is worth noting that the Executive Director of the EXEA Museum, Prof. Dr. Ticiano Alves, collaborated on the development of the Certification Trademark Usage Manual, and Prof. Dr. Antônio Lawand, Associate Researcher at the EXEA Museum, was part of the defense committee for the aforementioned dissertation.

The "Salinas Sustentáveis" certification is the first of its kind developed by a Brazilian federal university, and its purpose is clear: to recognize and encourage good environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in the saltworks of Rio Grande do Norte, which is the country's largest salt producer. Essentially, the certification functions as a quality seal, attesting that salt production follows rigorous sustainability standards.

Adopting the "Salinas Sustentáveis" certification not only aligns companies with international best practices but also opens doors to a new level of competitiveness. Certified companies will be able to access demanding markets, such as the European one, and strengthen their position in the national market. This is a brilliant example of how academic research can drive innovation and economic development, creating a valuable link between knowledge and business practice.

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Context Note:

• INPI Brazil: Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property.
• Potiguar: An adjective referring to something or someone from the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil.
• Rio Grande do Norte (RN): A state in Northeast Brazil, known for its salt production.
• PROFNIT Brazil: A national professional master's program in intellectual property and technology transfer.
• Ufersa: Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid.
• ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance.