5 Facts About Corn

Corn is considered a multipurpose agricultural crop around the globe. More corn is produced than any other grain crop. Yet, the challenges facing corn production run much deeper than the crop itself and the farmers who grow it. Issues of nutrition, food insecurity, water scarcity and environmental degradation have seismic impacts on the lives and futures of children and whole communities in the world’s most vulnerable places.

Check out these 5 facts about corn you never knew – including its connection to some of the biggest challenges, including hunger and climate change, the world faces today.

1. Corn comes from Mexico

   Corn originated in Mexico but it’s now popular everywhere. Corn comes in many different colours: yellow, red, blue, purple, black, brown, pink and so many others. It plays a key role in food security globally – together, rice, wheat and corn make up almost two-thirds of the total food energy eaten by the entire world.

2. One plant, lots of names

   Corn and maize are actually the same grain. Maize is an agricultural crop – think long green stalks swaying in the wind. The food, once harvested, is corn – those juicy yellow cobs. In East Africa, maize porridge is known as ugali, nshima in Malawi and Zambia, sadza in Zimbabwe and in parts of Botswana, phaleche. In South Africa, it is often called pap.

3. Corn ticks a lot of nutrition boxes

   Corn is a hunger-buster, packing more energy and carbohydrates into a serving than any other food. It is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. The plant compounds are even thought to lower the risk of eye diseases and protect against digestive problems and disease.

4. Maize is a thirsty crop

   Maize is straightforward to source and grow, and it survives in many soil types. Maize needs lots of water, regularly to thrive. But most maize production in Sub-Saharan Africa and other corn-dependent places relies on rain, not irrigation. With droughts and storms becoming more frequent and longer lasting, and rainfall becoming less predictable, this is increasingly a problem for corn farmers and those who rely on them.

5. Biofuels throw another curveball

   Corn isn’t just a tasty meal – it’s also used as an alternative to fossil fuels. It’s been hailed as a greener solution to the world’s growing problem with expensive and high carbon-emitting, oil-based fuels like gasoline, petroleum and diesel. But at the same time, there are also concerns that using crops like corn for biofuels can threaten food security in the developing world.