A study by the BIOMA Institute reveals how rising CO₂ levels affect the yield and nutritional quality of various legume varieties
The work, led by Mohammad Abdullah, along with researchers Nieves Goicoechea and Johann Martínez-Lüscher, sample different sample employed by commercial and local varieties in response to climate change
04 | 05 | 2026
A team of researchers from Biodiversity and Environment Institute ) at the University of Navarra has published a new study that sheds light on how rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere could affect the future of agriculture and food security. The work, led by PhD student Mohammad Abdullah in his first article an author, also features significant contributions from BIOMA Institute researchers Nieves Goicoechea and Johann Martínez-Lüscher.
The research, published in the *Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture*, examines the behavior of two types of Pardina lentils —a commercial variety and a traditional local variety—grown under high CO₂ conditions similar to those caused by climate change. The results show that both varieties respond positively to increased CO₂ levels by boosting their growth and yield, although they do so in different ways.
On the one hand, the study confirmed that the commercial variety increased yield: it produced more seeds and improved its water-use efficiency, making it an attractive option from a production standpoint. Specifically, seed production increased by up to 73% under high CO₂ conditions.
On the other hand, the local variety showed a more balanced nutritional profile. Although its yield increase was smaller, it had higher levels of certain essential minerals such as zinc, calcium, and manganese—nutrients core topic human health.
“The results show that rising CO₂ levels do not have a uniform effect on crops: while some varieties, such as commercial ones, respond with higher yields, others, such as local varieties, better preserve their nutritional quality. This balance between quantity and quality will be core topic designing sustainable agricultural strategies in the context of climate change and ensuring true food security in the future,” says Mohammad Abdullah, lead author of article.
The study also reveals an important finding: increased CO₂ levels raise the starch content in seeds, which can alter their nutritional value by reducing the ratio of protein to carbohydrates. According to the authors, these results highlight the importance of balancing productivity and nutritional quality in agricultural breeding programs. Traditional varieties, which are often less productive, could play a core topic role core topic a reservoir of beneficial genes in the face of future climate scenarios.
·reference letter
Abdullah, M., Garmendia, I., Mallor, C., Goicoechea, N., and Martínez-Lüscher, J. (2026), Contrasting CO₂-response strategies in Pardina lentils: Yield maximization in a commercial cultivar and seed composition adjustment in a landrace. J Sci Food Agric. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70608