FAQs
What is Nutrient Density? A Comprehensive Explanation
The term "Nutrient Density" refers to the nutritional value of a food relative to its calorie content. However, this definition, as used in food science, doesn’t fully capture the complexity we aim to describe. Our vision of nutrient density expands beyond just the amount of nutrients per calorie. We propose that nutrient density is not a binary characteristic but exists on a continuum, where each food item can be rated on a scale of 1 to 100. This scale correlates with the food's nutritional value and extends to various other factors, such as flavor, aroma, human health, soil health, plant health, ecosystem function, pest and disease resistance, and even shelf life.
A Continuum, Not a Binary Standard
Unlike certifications like "Organic" or "Regenerative," which are binary standards (you either produce food this way, or you don’t), we view nutrient density as a range, with food quality varying from low (e.g., a rating of 20) to high (e.g., a rating of 80 or 100). This perspective allows for a more nuanced approach to food quality. Our goal is to develop a standardized framework to assess and define nutrient density and make these standards freely available, allowing any company to create tools, like Bionutrient Meters, to measure it. By doing so, we aim to eliminate confusion about what nutrient density truly means and provide clarity for producers, researchers, and consumers alike.
The Need for a Standardized Definition
The term “Nutrient Density” was coined around 2007-2008, at a time when there was no word to describe the variation in nutrient content between different foods—whether comparing one carrot to another or one cut of beef to another. As the term gained traction, it became apparent that it had been adopted by others in the food science community to describe the average nutrients per calorie in a crop, such as kale being more nutrient-dense than rice. However, this is not the full scope of what we mean by nutrient density.
Over time, the term evolved in different directions, and much like the term "organic," which once had a specific meaning in chemistry but became associated with food production without synthetic chemicals, "Nutrient Density" became widely used but lacked a precise definition in the broader food world. As a result, we faced a situation where the term was being applied in a way that didn’t align with the deeper, holistic meaning we envisioned.
The Bionutrient Level: A More Precise Approach
To address this, we propose the use of the term "Bionutrient Level" to more accurately describe the relative quality of food, taking into account a wide range of factors—from the nutritional content to the broader ecological impact. For instance, we might say, "This beef is in the 80th percentile of Bionutrient Level," indicating that it is of high quality in terms of nutrition, environmental impact, and other key factors.
Our long-term goal is to formalize the definition of Bionutrient Levels for each crop, offering a consistent way to measure and assess the true nutritional value of food. This will enable consumers to make informed choices and encourage companies to produce food that supports human health, environmental sustainability, and ecosystem resilience.
Conclusion: Defining the Future of Food Quality
As with many emerging movements, when terms like “nutrient density” are used without clear definitions, confusion can arise, and the meaning can become diluted over time. We’re committed to clarifying this concept through the development of rigorous standards and measurements that accurately reflect the true nutritional value and ecological impact of our food. By doing so, we aim to create a system that can be applied across the entire food supply chain, providing everyone—producers, consumers, and researchers—with a clear understanding of what nutrient density truly means.
What is the status of the Bionutrient Meter?
We work to support consumers and growers of food in determining which food is nutritionally superior, and identify factors that influence crop quality. To further achieve this, we’ve developed a handheld Bionutrient Meter that, with a flash of light, can offer nutritional information about food, crops and soil. (link to published paper)
We are no longer producing the Bionutrient Meter. We’re proud to have proven the concept to the industry, via our lab, studies and prediction models. However, for the Bionutrient Meter to fulfill the vision of transparency, we must first develop a program of metrics and formulas that represent, to the best of our current understanding, what quality is. This includes a data set of deeper assessment of nutrients. Our goal now is to build that data set. We began with our Beef Study, and will be expanding into additional crops as interest and funding dictates.
For those curious minds who wish to build their own meter, here is a link to our open-source Bionutrient Meter instructions: https://our-sci.gitlab.io/manufacturing/reflectometer-tutorials/how_it_works/
I am interested in testing the nutritional quality of my produce. Can I send samples to the BFA for analysis?
Since 2017, the Bionutrient Food Association has been engaged in a nation-wide survey of the US food supply as part of our mission to improve quality in the food supply. First, by determining the variability, next by studying the causes of that variability and finally by providing meaningful models and models and measurement instrumentation that enables consumers, farmers, and supply chain managers to participate in the research and make informed decisions.
After proving considerable variation exists in our food supply, we realized the importance of defining nutrient density in order to further support our mission. As our focus has moved towards that process, we are no longer offering variation testing through our labs but recommend several partner labs to support you in your research around nutritional content.
Please join our mailing list (link) to stay up to date on our current nutrient density research or reach out to info@bionutrient.org to discuss ways to participate.
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Account FAQs
When I log into my account on the BFA website, why don't I see any membership information?
This most likely means that you don't have an active membership with the BFA; an account is not the same thing as a membership. Please contact info@bionutrient.org to confirm whether or not we have you in our membership system, or go to bionutrient.org/members to sign up for a membership.
I have been paying a monthly or annual amount to the BFA, but am unable to login to the website to access member benefits.
This most likely means you have been donating to the BFA via Donorbox in lieu of being an official member. If you would like to move your subscription over to our membership system, please contact info@bionutrient.org. If you would like to sign up for an additional membership subscription, please visit bionutrient.org/members.