Fruits, vegetables and grains contain significantly fewer essential nutrients than they did decades ago, according to a new report by UK-based Deep Science Ventures (DSV), a venture creator specializing in agriculture, computation, climate and pharmaceuticals.
The report, Hollow Harvests, found that common foods, including cereals, bread, apples, carrots and peas, have lost 20 to 50 percent of several key nutrients over the past six decades.
As a result, consumers may need to eat substantially more fruits and vegetables to obtain the same quantities of minerals such as zinc, potassium, magnesium and copper, the researchers suggested.
The report attributed much of the decline to soil degradation associated with decades of agricultural practices aimed at maximizing crop yields.
“For sixty years we’ve measured food security in calories and tonnes per hectare, and on those measures we’ve done remarkably well,” said Will Summers, senior associate at DSV. “But we’ve been quietly hollowing out what’s inside our food.”
According to the report, cereal yields per hectare have increased by 215 percent since the 1960s, while undernutrition in the developing world has fallen from 35 percent to 12 percent.
Despite improvements in food availability, the researchers warned that deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals remain widespread.
“It has been estimated that a total of 2 billion people suffer from at least one clinical micronutrient deficiency,” the researchers wrote, identifying iron, calcium, iodine, zinc, vitamin A and folate among the principal nutrients of concern.
The report described the phenomenon as “hidden hunger,” in which people consume sufficient calories but lack essential vitamins and minerals. Such deficiencies can contribute to health problems ranging from impaired physical function to serious conditions, including anemia and rickets.
The researchers also raised concerns about the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, including Ozempic and Mounjaro. They suggested that reduced food intake among people taking these drugs could make it more important to get sufficient micronutrients from smaller meals.
“As weight-loss drugs mean people eat less, the nutritional quality of every bite starts to matter much more,” Summers said.
To improve the nutrient density of crops, the report recommended restoring soil health, particularly by increasing soil organic matter.
The researchers cited paired-farm comparisons showing that crops grown in fields with nearly twice the topsoil organic matter contained higher concentrations of several vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Improving soil organic matter can also deliver environmental benefits. A recent study of Portuguese olive groves found that improved soil management can help reduce net carbon emissions.
Such findings add to growing interest in sustainable agricultural practices that support soil health while maintaining productivity.
Meanwhile, research into the relationship between diet and health suggests that consuming more fruits and vegetables may provide additional protection against chronic diseases.
A 2017 meta-analysis of studies involving about 2 million people found that consuming up to 10 portions of fruits and vegetables daily was associated with greater reductions in the risk of several diseases and premature death than consuming five portions.
Some nutrition experts have also recommended increasing daily fruit and vegetable intake to offset declining nutrient concentrations.
“To get as many nutrients from our fruit and veggies as they did in the ’70s and to hit our recommended daily consumption, we would need to consume seven to 10 servings a day,” said registered dietitian Scott Keatley.
However, scientific findings on the benefits of consuming more than five daily portions are not uniform. A 2021 study published in Circulation found that consuming approximately five servings of fruits and vegetables per day was associated with the lowest mortality risk, with no clear additional benefit from higher intake.
Registered dietitian Keri Gans emphasized that the findings should not discourage people from eating fresh produce.
“Ultimately, what matters most is that you continue to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables,” Gans said.
“Despite any potential decline in soil quality, fruits and vegetables still provide essential nutrients for our health, including vitamins C, E and A, potassium and fiber.”