CORN INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION

Maize (Zea mays L. ssp. mays, pronounced /ˈmeɪz/), known in many English-speaking countries
as corn, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The Aztecs
and Mayans cultivated it in numerous varieties throughout central and southern Mexico, to cook or
grind in a process called nixtamalization. Later the crop spread through much of the Americas. Between
1250 and 1700, nearly the whole continent had gained access to the crop.
The term maize derives from the Spanish form of the indigenous Taino word maiz for the plant.

CORN PRODUCTION

Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world, and a greater weight of maize is produced each
year than any other grain. The United States produces 40% of the world's harvest; other top
producing countries include China, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, India, France and Argentina.
Worldwide production was 817 million tonnes in 2009—more than rice (678 million tonnes) or
wheat (682 million tonnes). In 2009, over 159 million hectares of maize were planted worldwide,
with a yield of over 5 tonnes/hectare. Production can be significantly higher in certain regions of
the world; 2009 forecasts for production in Iowa were 11614 kg/ha. "There is conflicting
evidence to support the hypothesis that maize yield potential has increased" over the past few
decades.

Top ten maize producers in 2009

Country Production (tons) Note

 United States 333,010,910

 Asia 233,633,476 [A]

 China 163,118,097

 Europe 83,958,488 [A]

 Africa 56,685,857 [A]

 Brazil 51,232,447

 Mexico 20,202,600
  Indonesia 17,629,740

 India 17,300,000

 France 15,299,900

 Argentina 13,121,380

 South Africa 12,050,000

 Ukraine 10,486,300

 World 817,110,509 [A]

No symbol = official figure, A = Aggregate (may include official, semi-official or estimates). [25]