What is the Great Nutrient Collapse? Unpacking the Decline in Modern Food's Nutrition
                                
                                
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                                    5 min read                                
                            
                                According to a 2014 study published in *Nature*, rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were linked to significant decreases in protein, iron, and zinc in staple crops. This phenomenon, often referred to as the **great nutrient collapse**, describes the widespread reduction in the nutritional density of fruits, vegetables, and grains over recent decades.