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Expert Consultation on Nutrition Indicators for Biodiversity

2. Food consumption

Year of publication 2011

Author Nutrition Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The development of nutrition indicators for biodiversity is a collaborative international process, led by FAO together with Bioversity International and other partners. The task is part of the Cross-Cutting Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition. The initiative was launched on the basis of a recognized link between biodiversity, food and nutrition and the need to enhance sustainable use of food biodiversity to combat hunger and malnutrition. The Cross-Cutting Initiative on Biodiversit y for Food and Nutrition was formally established in 2006 by Decision VIII/23 A of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD–COP). The development of the food consumption indicator is supported by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP), coordinated by United Nations Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring Centre. An Expert Consultation was held on 8 and 9 June 2009 in Washington, DC, the United States of America, to develop the fo od consumption Nutrition Indicator for Biodiversity. The 12 experts from nine countries agreed on an indicator for food consumption consisting of a count in different surveys of the number of foods reported with a sufficiently detailed description of genus, species, subspecies and variety/cultivar/breed. Reporting for this indicator will also include the number of dietary assessment surveys taking biodiversity into consideration in relation to the total number of surveys examined. Monitoring the indicator will involve examining well-documented literature, including international, regional, national, sub-national survey reports and scientific literature. Reporting will be carried out by FAO every two years. It is hoped that the number of foods reported and the number of food consumption surveys taking account of biodiversity will show a positive trend, indicating the increasing recognition of the importance of biodiversity for food and nutrition.

Language English

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    Biological diversity is the variety of life on Earth, from the simplest micro-organisms to complex ecosystems such as the rainforests of the Amazon. Biodiversity is important for nutrition and health, and can help to combat micronutrient deficiencies and other forms of malnutrition. This can only be done if the composition of foods is known and disseminated so that varieties and breeds with higher nutritional quality can be promoted. The Cross-cutting Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition has been established to measure, investigate and promote biodiversity and nutrition. Therefore, nutrition indicators need to be developed to address the three dimensions of biodiversity – ecosystems, the species they contain and the genetic diversity within species. The indicators will measure the food composition and consumption of cultivars, varieties, breeds and subspecies of commonly consumed foods, as well as underutilized, uncultivated, indigenous plant and animal species. The second nutrition indicator for biodiversity is related to food consumption. It aims to report on progress regarding food consumption for biodiversity and will help us value and preserve our planet’s existing biodiversity within well-managed ecosystems, with their many sources of nutritionally-rich foods.
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    Biological diversity is the variety of life on Earth, from the simplest micro-organisms to complex ecosystems such as the rainforests of the Amazon. Biodiversity is important for nutrition and health, and can help to combat micronutrient deficiencies and other forms of malnutrition. This can only be done if the composition of foods is known and disseminated so that varieties and breeds with higher nutritional quality can be promoted. The Cross-cutting Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition has been established to measure, investigate and promote biodiversity and nutrition. Therefore, nutrition indicators need to be developed to address the three dimensions of biodiversity – ecosystems, the species they contain and the genetic diversity within species. The indicators will measure the food composition and consumption of cultivars, varieties, breeds and subspecies of commonly consumed foods, as well as of underutilized, uncultivated, indigenous pla nt and animal species. The first nutrition indicator for biodiversity is related to food composition. It aims to report on progress regarding food composition for biodiversity and will help us value and preserve our planet’s existing biodiversity within well-managed ecosystems, with their many sources of nutritionally-rich foods.
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