The Great Nutrient Collapse

The Great Nutrient Collapse.

This interesting article casts a warning shadow over the continual degradation of the nutritional value of our food supply given the current level of our enriched CO2 world. Mineral malnutrition stemming from undiversified plant-based diets is a top global challenge. In C₃ plants (3 carbon atoms plant life,e.g., rice, wheat), elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO₂) reduce protein and nitrogen concentrations, and can increase the total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC; mainly starch, sugars). However, contradictory findings have obscured the effect of eCO₂ on the ionome—the mineral and trace-element composition—of plants. Consequently, CO₂-induced shifts in plant quality have been ignored in the estimation of the impact of global change on humans. This study shows that eCO₂ reduces the overall mineral concentrations (−8%, 95% confidence interval: −9.1 to −6.9, p<0.00001) and increases non-structural carbohydrates (TNC:minerals > carbon:minerals) in C₃ plants. The meta-analysis of 7761 observations, including 2264 observations at state of the art Free Air CO2 Enrichment centers, covers 130 species/cultivars. The attained statistical power reveals that the shift is systemic and global. Its potential to exacerbate the prevalence of ‘hidden hunger’ and obesity is discussed. Credit: Irakli Loladze published paper Hidden Shift of the Ionome of Plants Exposed to Elevated CO2 Depletes Minerals at the Base of Human Nutrition.

Read Article Here:

http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/09/13/food-nutrients-carbon-dioxide-000511