The Integration of Sustainability into Geographical Indications: A Path to Sustainable Territorial DevelopmentGeographical Indications; Sustainability; Territorial Development.The intensification of global crises such as climate change and social inequality necessitates a reevaluation of existing development models. In this context, sustainable development practices that balance economic progress with environmental and cultural preservation gain increasing importance. Geographical Indications (GIs) emerge as a potential mechanism to valorize endogenous products and promote local sustainability by preserving the natural and cultural resources of their territories of origin. This study seeks to investigate how GIs can incorporate sustainability as a core component of their conceptual framework. To this end, the research aims to understand the historical and structural evolution of GIs and explores the feasibility of including sustainability as a foundational element in their theoretical basis. The study conducts a comparative analysis of the practices adopted in the Technical Specifications (CETs) of GIs in Portugal and Brazil, examining stakeholders’ perspectives regarding the integration of sustainability criteria. The results indicate that GIs inherently encompass dimensions of sustainability, as they derive from historical processes of endogenous adaptation to specific territories. However, findings also reveal a growing orientation toward economic valorization, which may weaken the original cultural and environmental linkage of these instruments. The analysis of Brazilian CETs demonstrates a fragmented approach to sustainability, with a predominance of technical and economic aspects, while social and governance dimensions remain underdeveloped. In contrast, the Portuguese model exhibits greater institutional maturity, with strong historical and cultural anchoring, positioning GIs as instruments of territorial preservation.