Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels Will Reduce Nutritional Value of Crops
The effects of carbon dioxide put populations at risk of losing the available dietary protein in staple crops, compounding the challenges of poverty worldwide.
Aug. 31, 2017
By Isabel PutinjaNew research by Harvard University warns that rising carbon dioxide levels that contribute to global warming could drastically reduce the nutritional content of staple crops.
Researchers from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health who conducted the study have concluded that if carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, the nutritional value of crops like wheat, rice, barley and potatoes will be reduced. This would put the populations of 18 countries around the world at risk of losing more than five percent of the dietary protein available to them by 2050.
This study highlights the need for countries that are most at risk to actively monitor their populations’ nutritional sufficiency, and, more fundamentally, the need for countries to curb human-caused CO2 emissions.
In concrete numbers, this amounts to 150 million people. The researchers arrived at this figure by studying the results of experiments conducted on crops by exposing them to high carbon dioxide levels and examining global dietary information, demographical data and figures measuring income inequality.
The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, revealed that when exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide, the protein content of rice decreased by 7.6 percent, 7.8 percent for wheat, 14.1 percent for barley and by 6.4 percent for potatoes. This also presents a risk of decline in the mineral content of these foods, like zinc, iron and selenium, all of which are essential for human health.
According to the study, 76 percent of the world’s population gets its protein from plants. The regions highlighted as the most vulnerable include Sub-Saharan Africa where protein deficiency is already a dilemma and South Asian countries like India where rice and wheat are staples and the main protein source.
In India, 5.3 percent of the protein content of crops could be lost, affecting 53 million people.
In a Harvard University press release, Samuel Myers, senior research scientist at the Department of Environmental Health stressed that action needs to be taken: “This study highlights the need for countries that are most at risk to actively monitor their populations’ nutritional sufficiency, and, more fundamentally, the need for countries to curb human-caused CO2 emissions,” he said.
“Strategies to maintain adequate diets need to focus on the most vulnerable countries and populations, and thought must be given to reducing vulnerability to nutrient deficiencies through supporting more diverse and nutritious diets, enriching the nutritional content of staple crops, and breeding crops less sensitive to these CO2 effects.”
Carbon dioxide is one of the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. This was the first study to quantify the impacts of rising carbon dioxide levels as a result global warming on the protein content of staple crops.
The researchers point out that adding more fertilizer to crops does not mitigate the negative effects of carbon dioxide on plant protein, with fertilizer production and utilization actually being a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Replacing plant protein with animal protein is not presented as a solution either because of the resource-intensive nature of livestock farming. Instead, more resilient crops like legumes could be an alternative, as well as measures addressing more equitable food distribution and poverty reduction.
Related Articles
Nov. 30, 2021
Award-Winning Producer Says Croatians Need to Return to Their Traditional Roots
After climate change wreaked havoc on the 2021 harvest, one of Croatia’s leading producers believes the olive farming paradigm in the country must change.
May. 31, 2022
Report: Food System Reform Can Reverse Deforestation and Desertification
The United Nations report recommended shifting to regenerative agricultural techniques and eating more plant-based diets as effective reforms.
Mar. 7, 2022
Indian Consumers Reject Nutri-Score and Other Labels
A nationwide study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Science found warning labels to be the most effective type of front-of-pack labels.
Aug. 23, 2021
Study Suggests New Approach to Promoting a Heart-Healthy Diet
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of dozens of studies to determine the relationship between specific foods and heart disease.
May. 16, 2022
Record Heatwave and Drought in Pakistan Threaten Crops and Olive Farming
The unprecedented heatwave also has caused glacial floods and power outages. Further temperature rises are expected.
Dec. 17, 2021
How to Follow the Mediterranean Diet and Enjoy Its Health Benefits
The Mediterranean diet is famous for its health benefits, but many people are unsure of what it is or how to follow it.
Sep. 2, 2021
Weakened Gulf Stream Will Have Major Impact on European Agriculture, Scientists Predict
Weakening ocean currents will likely increase incidences of extreme weather events, researchers warn, particularly in the Mediterranean Basin.
Dec. 22, 2021
E.U. Moves to Block Deforestation-Derived Imports, Including Some Palm Oil
A new European Commission proposal aims to significantly slash imports of commodities associated with deforestation, especially in Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.