We were interested in the direct relationship between CO₂ rise and food quality

Abstract

Carbon dioxide enrichment is a standard tool in modern greenhouse horticulture, widely used to boost yields and accelerate crop growth. New research from Leiden University shows, however, that rising CO₂ concentrations also directly affect the nutritional composition of food crops, an issue with growing relevance for controlled-environment agriculture.

Published in Global Change Biology, the study by Sterre F. ter Haar, Peter M. van Bodegom, and Laura Scherer is the largest meta-analysis to date on CO₂-driven changes in crop nutrient content. It compiles data from 109 peer-reviewed studies, covering 43 crops and more than 29,000 paired observations of edible plant parts.