Rising Carbon Dioxide and Global Nutrition: Evidence and Action Needed

While the role of CO2 as a greenhouse gas in the context of global warming is widely acknowledged, additional data from multiple sources is demonstrating that rising CO2 of and by itself will have a tremendous effect on plant biology. This effect is widely recognized for its role in stimulating photosynthesis and growth for multiple plant species, including crops. However, CO2 is also likely to alter plant chemistry in ways that will denigrate plant nutrition. That role is also of tremendous importance, not only from a human health viewpoint, but also from a global food-web perspective. Here, the goal is to review the current evidence, propose potential mechanistic explanations, provide an overview of critical unknowns and to elucidate a series of next steps that can address what is, overall, a critical but unappreciated aspect of anthropogenic climate change.

Automated summary

While CO2 is widely recognized as a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming, it is also found to have a significant impact on plant biology, including stimulating photosynthesis and growth but potentially affecting plant nutrition. This aspect of anthropogenic climate change is crucial yet often overlooked.