Numerous studies show that higher carbon dioxide levels increase the vitamin and mineral output of plants. Studies also show that higher carbon levels increase the plants' output of flavonoids, phenolics, essential oils, tannins, antioxidants, amino acids and other phytochemicals.

Humans and animals depend on the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals provided by the plant kingdom. When plants are starved of basic elements like carbon, they cannot provide the nourishment that humans need to thrive. As the world's population surpasses eight billion people, there will be a greater global need for warmer temperatures, longer growing seasons and higher carbon dioxide levels to build up an ecosystem that supports highly medicinal crops, herbs and super foods.

CO2 enrichment significantly boosts the medicinal properties of herbs
A research team (AbdElgawad et al.) conducted a CO2 enrichment study on caraway. This herb is cultivated globally and is used to treat several human ailments, from diarrhea and cholera to asthma and hypertension. Caraway has a history of medicinal use as an antibacterial, anthelmintic, antifungal, anti-allergic and bronchodilator. Because it is a valuable medicine worldwide, scientists are looking into ways to promote its growth and increase its medicinal properties.

The researchers grew the herb in two controlled environments. One environment contained 400 ppm CO2 and the other was enriched with elevated CO2 level of 620 ppm CO2. The plants were harvested as sprouts after nine days of growth and as mature plants after 45 days of growth. The researchers quantified the differences in their medicinal value. The high CO2 environment enhanced photosynthesis, the chlorophyll content, as well as the fresh and dry weight of the plants. In the sprouts, these increases were 66%, 50%, 64% and 120%, respectively. In the mature plants, these increases were 40%, 44%, 48% and 29% respectively.