Dietary sourcing flexibility index

Definition

Measures the diversity of pathways through which food reaches consumers. Expresses how difficult it is to disrupt a country's food supply. Considers three possible pathways a unit of food can reach a consumer: 1) Food produced domestically; 2) Imported food; 3) Stocks carried over from the previous year. Total sources for calories is the indicator used, disaggregation by source and for other nutrients and food groups are available.

Relevance

Diversification (of portfolios, livelihoods, income, source of food, etc.) is an essential risk strategy well established both theoretically and empirically in the general literature. In the present case the dietary sourcing flexibility index captures the possible diversification of sources of food supply.