ABSTRACT
Maize, commonly also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in Southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces separate pollen and ovuliferous inflorescences or ears, which are fruits, yielding kernels or seeds. Over time maize has become a staple food in many parts of the world, with total production surpassing that of wheat or rice. However, not all this maize is consumed directly by humans. Some of the maize production is used for corn ethanol, animal feed, and other maize products, such as corn starch and corn syrup. The word maize is derived from the Spanish form of the indigenous Taino word for the plant, mahiz. Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world, and a greater weight of maize is produced each year than any other grain. In 2014, total world production was 1.04 billion tons, led by the United States with 35% of the total. China produced 21% of the global total.
