Nutrition functional diversity index

Definition

Modified functional attribute diversity reflects the diversity in nutrients provided by the different food items in the food supply based on the nutritional composition and amount of each food item present. A higher score indicates higher diversity.

Relevance

Diversity in a country's agricultural production may lead to more nutritious food environments, diet diversity, and improved nutrition outcomes. However, simple measures of crop species diversity such as a count of different crops produced do not take into consideration the diversity of essential nutrients that these crops provide. The nutrition functional diversity index addresses this gap by considering the nutrient contents of each crop, awarding higher values of diversity only when crops contribute different nutrients, but not when they provide the same nutrients.