Summary
This review synthesises evidence on the paradoxical relationship between rising atmospheric CO₂ and crop productivity and quality. Whilst elevated CO₂ has historically stimulated photosynthesis and yields through the 'CO₂ fertilisation effect', the concurrent greenhouse warming and extreme weather it drives increasingly threaten crop production. Critically, the authors highlight that elevated CO₂ reduces crop nutritional value—diminishing protein and micronutrient concentrations—and propose that genetic improvement and biofortification strategies are essential to maintain food security and nutritional adequacy in a warming world.
Regional applicability
The global mechanisms described apply to United Kingdom agriculture, though the UK's temperate climate and maritime conditions may experience different manifestations of altered precipitation and extreme weather compared to continental or tropical regions. The nutritional degradation of crops and adaptive breeding strategies discussed are directly relevant to UK crop improvement and food security policy.
Key measures
Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, canopy transpiration, crop yield, protein content, micronutrient concentration (key minerals), radiative forcing, temperature anomalies, precipitation patterns
Outcomes reported
The paper examines how rising atmospheric CO₂ affects crop photosynthesis, yield and nutritional composition, whilst also exploring how elevated CO₂-induced warming and altered precipitation patterns impact crop productivity and food security. It identifies mechanisms by which CO₂ enrichment reduces crop protein and micronutrient content, and discusses biofortification and genetic diversity as adaptive strategies.
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