Climate change reduces the nutritional value of agricultural crops, increasing the risk of "hidden hunger." - Levon Azizyan
29-07-2026 14:15 Armenia A comment
The director of the SHM "Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center" Levon Azizyan wrote on his Facebook page.
"Climate change reduces the nutritional value of agricultural crops, increasing the risk of 'hidden hunger.'
‼️Climate change and the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration can decrease the content of essential nutrients in agricultural crops. As a result, humanity may face not only the issue of food quantity but also its quality, a phenomenon that scientists call 'hidden hunger.'
By 'hidden hunger,' we mean the situation where a person receives sufficient calories, but there is a deficiency of vital micronutrients and vitamins in their body. This is particularly dangerous in regions where people's diets are primarily based on a few crops such as rice, wheat, corn, and other cereals.
‼️Research shows that the increase in atmospheric CO₂ levels can alter the chemical composition of plants. Under conditions of excess carbon dioxide, many crops accumulate biomass more rapidly, but the concentration of protein, iron, zinc, and several vitamins in their tissues decreases.
This is due to the characteristics of plant photosynthesis and metabolism. Additional carbon stimulates the formation of carbohydrates, but the content of other nutrients does not increase in the same proportion. As a result, a plant may appear healthy and provide high yields, but its nutritional value will be lower.
The greatest concern for scientists relates to those crops that form the basis of the diets of billions of people. For example, the decrease in iron and zinc content in cereal crops may increase the risk of anemia and other health issues, especially in countries where dietary diversity is limited.
At the same time, experts emphasize that carbon dioxide is not the only reason for the change in the nutritional value of crops. Factors such as rising air temperatures, droughts, soil degradation, and changes in agricultural technologies also affect the nutritional quality of plants.
‼️To address the issue, scientists are considering several directions, ranging from the creation of new varieties with high nutritional value to the improvement of agro-technologies and more efficient soil management. One promising approach is biofortification, which involves creating plant varieties capable of accumulating more vitamins and micronutrients.
Thus, the future of food security depends not only on the quantity of food produced by agriculture but also on its nutritional value. In the context of climate change, maintaining the nutritional quality of crops becomes one of the most significant challenges for the global food system."
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
