FAQ’s

What is Nutrient Density?

Nutrient Density refers to the amount of nutrients in a food or crop. The conventional assumption is that all carrots or all milk, for example, is the same nutritionally. Our experience with our nose and tongue, validated by our lab work for the past three years is that this is not true. In fact, one carrot can have many more nutrients in it than another. We understand that it is the combination of how a crop is grown, its variety, micro-biome, the weather conditions it experienced, etc. that cause it to have higher or lower levels of nutrients in it.

Many types of labels, certifications and marketing say something either is or isn’t something - binary. For instance, a crop may be certified organic, and another one is not.
In our experience, some organic crops have high levels of nutrient density and some have low levels, so currently this label or certification does not guarantee nor address nutrient density.

We are working to develop the data sets and instruments to allow discernment as to where in the continuum of nutrient density in a crop exists. For example, this carrot may be in the 20th percentile of what a carrot could be and that one may be in the 80th percentile. To join us and accelerate our work, visit Get Involved.

How can I participate ?

The core of our work has been in partnership and collaboration with growers, consumers, nonprofit organizations, researchers, companies and philanthropists. Depending on how you see yourself, there are many different ways to engage.

1. Become a Grower Partner

Growers Partners have historically provided our labs with the data they need to calibrate the Bionutrient Meter, as well as provide valuable insight as to what “causes
Nutrient Density in food and crops. Being a Grower Partner offers you an opportunity to see where your crops and soil stand on the continuum with other growers.

2. Be a Citizen Scientist!

This program offers eater everywhere the opportunity to send in samples from their points of purchase to see where the food that they buy and eat stands in relation to other food sampled in our labs. If you’re interested in engaging more deeply go to our Get Involved page to apply. You can gather a group of friends or your community to build a project for education and to improve your overall access to nutrient dense food.

3. Donate

Without our base of generous donors, we would not be able to do nor complete this work. We’ve built the structure where we can determine what Nutrient Density is; our next step is to grow the availability of this food by sharing this work and providing tools and data for growers. We welcome you on this journey. Visit bionutrient.org/donate to support. Thank you!

What is the Bionutrient Meter?

The Bionutrient Meter is an open source, hand held, consumer price point colorimeter or spectrometer that has been calibrated with the crop samples we have collected over the past 3 years. It provides readings to consumers on a smart phone (Android) that show levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, brix and BQI (Bionutrient Quotient Index) with a flash of light. It flashes 10 different LED lights at the crop in question, and based upon its reading of the light that bounces back is able to predict the levels of nutrients in the food in real time. In June 2021 we have calibrations for 8 different crops, but expect to increase that to at least 12.

Who funds the Institute?

The BI is a project of the Bionutrient Food Association and is funded primarily through charitable donations from mission-aligned foundations, with some sampling costs paid by growers and citizen scientists, along with small dollar donations from our community of supporters. We are committed to everyone owning their own data, to all of our work being open source and in the commons, and as such have not and will not take any money from companies or investors looking for intellectual property or to withhold our work from the public.