Harvard Food+ Research Symposium: Samuel Myers | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Rising carbon dioxide levels threaten human nutrition, global pollinator declines lead to vitamin deficiencies, and reduced access to wildlife in diets causes public health harm.

Transcript

alright hi I'm saying Meyers I'm a physician and a senior research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health where I research the human health impacts of large-scale anthropogenic environmental change and the research that I think is most relevant to this symposium falls into three different areas one are the health impacts of rising concent... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 Rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere result in significant reductions in nutritionally important elements, such as iron, zinc, and protein in food crops.
• 😋 Global pollinator declines pose a threat to human health by increasing the risk of micronutrient deficiencies and reducing the intake of essential food commodities.
• 🥺 Reduced access to wildlife in diets, both terrestrial and marine, leads to micronutrient deficiencies and unrecognized public health problems.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the researchers investigate the impact of rising carbon dioxide on food crop nutrition?

The researchers used free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) methodology, growing crops in rings of carbon dioxide emitting jets to mimic future atmospheric conditions. They found reductions in iron, zinc, and protein in certain food crops.

Q: How many people are affected by iron and zinc deficiencies globally?

Currently, about two billion people suffer from iron and zinc deficiencies, resulting in 63 million life years lost.

Q: What are the consequences of global pollinator declines on human health?

Pollinator declines can lead to increased risks of micronutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency, and reduced intake of essential food commodities. This results in up to 1.4 million excess deaths annually and a significant increase in the burden of disease.

Q: How does human consumption of wildlife impact public health?

Consuming wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, provides access to important micronutrients. Reduced access to wildlife in diets can lead to micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. This creates public health challenges that are often overlooked.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to significant reductions in iron, zinc, and protein in food crops, affecting human nutrition.

• Global pollinator declines increase the risk of vitamin deficiencies and reduced intake of important food commodities, leading to health impacts and excess deaths.

• Human consumption of wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, can result in public health harm due to reduced access to micronutrients.