160 Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Vol. 18, Nos. 1/2, 2022 Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. A niche strategy for geographical indication products, by valorising local resources: the Greek cheese Ladotyri Mytilinis Maria Spilioti* and Spiros Stachtiaris Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Email: spimaria1@gmail.com Email: spiros.stachtiaris@gmail.com *Corresponding author Antonios Kominakis Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Email: acom@aua.gr Pavlos Karanikolas and Konstantinos Tsiboukas Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Email: pkaranik@aua.gr Email: tsiboukask@gmail.com Abstract: This study aims to develop a niche strategy for the Greek geographical indication (GI) product Ladotyri Mytilinis, through the valorisation of local resources, especially the local livestock breed. The strategy emphasises the quality, production methods, and regional identity of this product. Data were collected through a thorough literature review and field research. The specifications of the product and the valorisation of local resources can utilise the local sheep breed, its nutrition, the habitat in which it lives, the quality of its products, and the breeding system. The product is integrated into markets in multiple ways. The milk of the local breed is used in three different GI products. The governance of this geographical indication is characterised by concentration, lack of coordination and absence of a specialised collective structure. Various elements of value chain governance through contracting, network governance, and informal relationships have been identified. Keywords: geographical indications; local breed; Lesvos Island; niche strategy; value chain; governance. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Spilioti, M., Stachtiaris, S., Kominakis, A., Karanikolas, P. and Tsiboukas, K. (2022) ‘A niche strategy for geographical indication products, by valorising local resources: the Greek cheese Ladotyri Mytilinis’, Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Vol. 18, Nos. 1/2, pp.160–181.