Climate Change Threatens Micronutrient Density of European Winter Wheat

Micronutrients are vital for human health. Wheat is a major staple crop and a significant source of minerals and B-vitamins. The impact of multifactorial climate change on their content remains largely unknown, introducing uncertainty to human nutrition and well-being. Here, we used an Ecotron to evaluate micronutrient levels in European winter wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Asory) under historical and projected climate conditions, incorporating gradients of atmospheric CO₂, temperature, precipitation, and light intensity representative of ongoing climate change in Western Europe. Our findings indicate that future climates will strongly diminish multiple minerals and B-vitamins in grains, thereby posing a significant challenge for global public health.