Summary
This meta-analysis, published in Food Chemistry in 2013, pools evidence from multiple experimental studies to assess how rising atmospheric CO₂ affects the micronutrient content of wheat grain. The findings are likely to indicate a dilution effect, whereby elevated CO₂ reduces concentrations of key minerals such as iron and zinc — a pattern consistent with the broader literature on the 'CO₂ fertilisation' effect on grain quality. The paper provides a quantitative synthesis relevant to understanding the nutritional implications of future climate scenarios for cereal-based food systems.
UK applicability
Although the meta-analysis draws on international experimental data, the findings are directly applicable to UK wheat production, where elevated CO₂ is projected to affect both yield and grain quality under future climate trajectories; this has implications for dietary micronutrient supply from UK-grown cereals.
Key measures
Grain mineral concentration (mg/kg) for micronutrients including iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and other trace elements under ambient versus elevated CO₂ conditions
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the effect of elevated CO₂ concentrations on the levels of key micronutrients — including iron, zinc, and potentially magnesium and calcium — in wheat grain. It synthesised data across multiple controlled experiments to estimate pooled effect sizes on grain mineral density.
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