Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is causing a decline in essential nutrients like protein, iron, and zinc in staple crops. While higher CO2 can make plants grow faster, it dilutes the concentration of minerals absorbed from the soil, leading to lower nutritional density. This trend poses a significant risk to global health, potentially exacerbating malnutrition and anemia for millions of people. The biological shift occurs because plants require less water uptake when CO2 is abundant, reducing the transport of vital minerals from the roots to the edible parts of the plant.
