Back to Food & Nutrition
๐ŸŒฝ
๐ŸŒพ Agriculture & Crops

Maize (Corn)

Domesticated in Mexico ~9,000 BC; now the world's most produced crop by volume

Mexico ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 9000 BC Agriculture & Crops

Key Facts

  1. 1

    Domesticated from teosinte grass in southern Mexico ~9,000 BC by indigenous peoples

  2. 2

    Three uses: food for humans, feed for livestock, and industrial (ethanol, starch, plastics)

  3. 3

    Global production: 1.2 billion tonnes/year โ€” more than wheat or rice; USA produces 32% of world total

๐ŸŽ Did you know? Corn is in about 4,000 grocery products โ€” from corn syrup to cornstarch to corn oil to corn-fed beef

Quick Reference

Category

Agriculture & Crops

Origin

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ Mexico

Year / Era

9000 BC

About

Domesticated in Mexico ~9,000 BC