Tag: Crops

Just 15 crops provide 90 percent of global energy intake, with the 'big four' staples—maize, rice, wheat, and potatoes—feeding billions of people worldwide. These crops are the foundation of diets across diverse cultures and economies, providing essential energy and nutrients for daily life.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 83% of the world's calories and 62% of its protein are derived from plants. This establishes that the biggest source of food for humanity is overwhelmingly plant-based agriculture, with cereal grains playing a central role.

Over 90% of corn, cotton, and soy grown in the United States are from genetically modified seeds, meaning many common processed foods contain ingredients derived from genetically altered crops. Understanding what foods are genetically altered can help consumers make informed decisions about their dietary choices.

The world produces enough food to feed everyone on the planet, yet millions still face hunger due to complex logistical issues. To better understand this, we must explore where do we get most of our food from, examining the intricate systems that supply global nourishment.

By the 1990s, the ringspot virus had nearly wiped out Hawaii's papaya crop, threatening to dismantle the state's entire papaya industry. Without the development of a genetically modified (GMO) virus-resistant 'Rainbow' papaya, this staple fruit might have become a rare and expensive commodity. This surprising survival story is just one example of what foods wouldn't exist without GMO.

In 2023, China made a significant regulatory shift by issuing the first safety approval for a gene-edited crop, a soybean variety designed to produce healthier oil. This policy change marks a new era for gene-edited crops in China, accelerating their development and commercialization to address national food security challenges and boost agricultural productivity.

Cereal grains have served as a principal component of the human diet for thousands of years, supplying over half of the world's daily caloric intake. So, what is a group of cereal called? The answer depends entirely on the context, as the collective noun changes based on whether you're referring to the plants in the field or the harvested seeds.