Population Health

August 2, 2018

Higher concentrations of carbon dioxide may reduce protein and multiple key nutrients in rice

Effects of carbon on rice qualityNew research shows for the first time that rice grown at the concentrations of atmospheric CO2 expected by the end of this century has lower levels of four key B vitamins.

The research’s findings also support research from other studies showing that rice grown under higher CO2 concentrations has less protein, iron and zinc.

Decreases in the nutritional content of rice could have a disproportionate impact on health outcomes in the poorest rice-dependent countries, according to the study team, which includes researchers from the University of Washington schools of public health and medicine.

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