An Ancient Crop, a Mesoamerican Legend, and Its Importance in Modern Agriculture
- Adriana Barragán González
- Jan 22
- 9 min read
Corn (Zea mays) is an annual grass plant native to Mesoamerica, domesticated by pre-Columbian peoples approximately 12,000 years ago in the central region of Mexico. It is a cereal with a robust stalk that produces ears (the female inflorescence) bearing rows of edible kernels covered by leafy husks.
Since its early domestication, maize cultivation spread throughout the American continent long before the arrival of Europeans, who introduced it to Europe in the 16th century. Today, corn stands out as the most widely produced cereal worldwide, surpassing other staple grains such as wheat and rice.
Biologically, corn is a crop with remarkable adaptive capacity. It can be grown across a wide range of climates, soils, and altitudes: from temperate latitudes near 40° S in South America to boreal regions around 60° N in Canada. In addition, corn exhibits highly efficient C4 physiology, with a high photosynthetic rate that makes it one of the most productive cultivated species in the world. Its metabolism gives it the greatest potential to produce carbohydrates per unit area per day among all cereals. A single kernel can generate hundreds of new kernels on one ear, reflecting its high multiplication rate. Thanks to this productivity and to continuous agronomic improvements, corn has been at the forefront of agricultural revolutions (such as the adoption of hybrids) that dramatically increased yields throughout the 20th century. In short, corn has evolved from an ancestral food into a pillar of modern global agriculture.
The Legend of Corn (Mesoamerican Cultural Origins)
In the Mesoamerican worldview, corn was not only a material source of sustenance, but also a sacred element.
Pre-Hispanic civilizations developed deities and myths around this grain, reflecting its enormous cultural importance. Each people revered the god of corn under different names and forms, integrating it into their agricultural rituals and creation stories.
For example, Mayan tradition recounts in the Popol Vuh that the gods, after several failed attempts using other materials, created the first humans from corn dough, thus granting humanity a divine origin. Similarly, in Mexica (Aztec) mythology, the Legend of the Suns describes how the god Quetzalcóatl undertook dangerous journeys to obtain the precious corn kernels hidden behind the mountains, in order to give them to the people as a fundamental source of food. These corn legends highlight how, for Mesoamerican peoples, this crop was a gift from the gods and the very foundation of daily life. Corn occupied a central place in diet, economy, and collective identity; its agricultural cycle marked festivals, and its presence was reflected in art, in deities such as Cintéotl or Chicomecóatl, and in countless stories passed down from generation to generation. In short, corn was (and continues to be) more than just a food: it was the sacred sustenance around which the culture and survival of the original civilizations of the Americas revolved.
Importance of Corn in Modern Agriculture
Today, corn is essential to agriculture and the global economy, constituting a strategic crop due to its production volume, versatility of uses, and capacity to support food security. Below are several key aspects of the importance of corn in the modern world.
Economic Impact and Global Production of Corn
The scale of corn production surpasses that of any other food crop. In 2023, global corn production reached approximately 1,241.6 million metric tons, grown on around 208 million hectares, with an average yield close to 5.96 metric tons per hectare. This record figure reflects decades of growth: global corn production has increased by 256% since 1992, driven by advances in genetic improvement, fertilization, and mechanization, which raised average yields by 61% over that period. Corn is cultivated on every habitable continent, and its production generates employment and income in thousands of rural communities worldwide.
The main producing countries—the United States, China, and Brazil—together account for more than 60% of the global harvest (the U.S. at nearly 30%, China around 24%, and Brazil approximately 10%), underscoring corn’s economic weight. This grain is also one of the most widely traded agricultural commodities internationally, representing a key source of foreign exchange for major exporters such as the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. In many developing economies, corn cultivation is a fundamental activity: it generates employment in planting, harvesting, transportation, and processing, energizing local economies. Associated value chains (feed production, oils, sweeteners, biofuels, etc.) expand markets and contribute to industrial growth. In summary, corn not only feeds populations but also drives the global economy, acting as an agricultural backbone in numerous countries.
Food and Industrial Uses of Corn
Corn uses are extremely diverse, ranging from staple food consumption to chemical and industrial applications. The main applications are outlined below:
Human consumption
Corn is a staple cereal in the diet of hundreds of millions of people. It is used to produce tortillas, arepas, tamales, polenta, breakfast cereals, and many other traditional foods.
Its kernels, rich in starch, provide complex carbohydrates as an essential source of energy, as well as fiber, vitamins (e.g., folic acid and vitamin B3), and minerals (magnesium, phosphorus). Corn-derived products such as corn oil (used for cooking) and sweeteners are also obtained; for example, high-fructose corn syrup is widely used as a sweetener in beverages and processed foods. In many regions, nixtamalized corn (grain cooked with lime) is transformed into dough for tortillas and other preparations, improving its nutritional profile by increasing the bioavailability of niacin.
Animal feed (forage)
Approximately half of global corn production is destined for livestock and poultry feed. Forage corn, whether as grain or silage, forms the basis of diets for chickens, pigs, and cattle due to its high energy density and good protein contribution. It is highly digestible and palatable for animals, which improves feed conversion efficiency (more meat, milk, and eggs per unit of feed consumed). Thanks to corn, intensive livestock production can sustain the large-scale supply of animal protein for human consumption. Because of its abundance and nutritional value, corn grain is a primary ingredient in compound feeds, ensuring more productive and stable livestock systems.
Industrial uses
Corn is an important industrial raw material. Its starch is used in the production of biofuels such as ethanol: through fermentation, corn provides fuel alcohol that is blended with gasoline, contributing to renewable energy sources. Corn starch derivatives are also used in the paper industry (as adhesives and finishing agents) and in the production of syrups, industrial alcohols, and bioplastics. Corn also yields chemical inputs such as lactic acid, sorbitol, and amino acids used in food and pharmaceutical applications. Even its by-products (cobs, leaves) can be utilized, for example, in the manufacture of biodegradable materials, winter forage, or biomass generation. This versatility makes corn a high value-added crop, as virtually every part of the ear can be used. Its multiple industrial applications expand production chains, creating jobs in sectors such as bioethanol, sweetener manufacturing, the textile industry (corn fibers), and the production of consumables ranging from cosmetics to civil explosives, where starch acts as a binding agent.
Innovation and Biotechnology in Corn Cultivation
Scientific improvement has played a crucial role in corn’s modern success. From the first hybrid varieties developed in the 20th century to today’s genetically modified corn, innovation has made it possible to overcome yield limits and address agricultural challenges. Corn was the first cereal to undergo large-scale technological improvement, and the impact of science has been evident: for example, the adoption of hybrids in the United States beginning in the 1930s doubled and tripled yields, a phenomenon that later spread worldwide.
In recent years, modern biotechnology has introduced genetic traits that were previously unimaginable. Today, in countries such as the United States, the vast majority of corn grown is genetically modified, incorporating foreign genes that confer agronomic advantages. These GMO varieties are designed to resist pests (e.g., Bt corn, which produces insecticidal proteins against borers and caterpillars) or tolerate herbicides (such as glyphosate-resistant RR corn), reducing losses from weeds and insect damage. Improved lines have also been developed with tolerance to water stress (drought) and enhanced nutritional qualities, such as biofortified corn with higher protein content, vitamin A, or other essential micronutrients.
The productivity results are remarkable: thanks to genetic engineering and advanced plant breeding, modern high-yield corn can easily exceed 10 metric tons per hectare under good conditions, whereas traditional (landrace) varieties may have averaged only 1–2 t/ha. In fact, experts note that under controlled environments, certain hybrid transgenic varieties have reached up to 15 t/ha—an unimaginable figure just a few decades ago. Beyond productivity gains, biotechnology also seeks to make corn cultivation more sustainable: plants that use water and nutrients more efficiently or resist diseases help maintain yields with lower environmental impact. Nevertheless, the deployment of transgenic corn is not without debate (regarding biodiversity, seed markets, consumer acceptance, etc.), leading some countries to restrict its cultivation. Even so, the global trend indicates that innovation will remain indispensable for improving corn in the face of climate change and growing food demand. In summary, biotechnology applied to corn has proven to be a powerful tool for ensuring high yields and production stability, consolidating this cereal as a key ally in feeding the world more efficiently.
Corn and Global Food Security
The importance of corn goes beyond economics: it is a backbone of global food security. Together with rice and wheat, it forms the triad of staple cereals that sustain the human diet on a large scale.
In many regions and cultures, corn is synonymous with daily food. For example, in Mexico and Central America, more than 60% of the calories in the traditional diet come from corn through preparations such as tortillas, tamales, atoles, and pozole. In sub-Saharan Africa, dishes made from cornmeal (ugali, sadza, nshima) constitute the everyday caloric base. Its high energy content (around 360 kcal per 100 g of dry grain) and its efficient production per hectare make corn an accessible source of carbohydrates for low-income populations. Likewise, it provides essential nutrients: although deficient in certain amino acids, it supplies plant-based proteins and contains B-complex vitamins; when combined with legumes (beans, soybeans), its protein profile is complemented for millions of people. In short, corn guarantees a cheap and abundant source of calories that has historically helped combat hunger and malnutrition in many countries.
Equally important is corn’s role as animal feed, which ensures the large-scale availability of animal protein (meat, eggs, dairy products). A large portion of corn production is transformed into compound feed for livestock: without corn, the industrial-scale production of poultry, pork, or beef required to supply modern cities would not be possible. Thanks to its yield and nutritional value, this grain efficiently converts plant inputs into high-quality protein for human consumption. For this reason, corn is said to play a dual role in food security: direct food for populations and indirect food by sustaining livestock production. Studies indicate that more than 40% of global corn production is dedicated to direct human consumption, highlighting its irreplaceable role in ensuring the global diet. At the same time, through forage corn, a large share of the world’s animal protein supply is sustained. Ultimately, the availability and stable price of corn directly impact food security: abundant corn harvests translate into affordable tortillas, economical animal feed, and lower costs for meat and dairy products. It is no coincidence that fluctuations in the corn market have sensitive effects—such as the so-called “tortilla crisis” in Mexico in 2007, when shortages drove up prices of this staple, or the current tensions surrounding corn self-sufficiency. For all these reasons, experts emphasize the need to improve the sustainability and resilience of corn cultivation (through new technologies, genetic diversity, and good agricultural practices) in order to safeguard present and future food security.
Corn stands as a strategic and irreplaceable crop, both for its agronomic importance and for its cultural and economic weight on a global scale. Over millennia, this grain has evolved from being the foundation of ancient civilizations—sacred food in Mesoamerican legend and sustenance of the earliest agricultural societies—into the axis of modern food systems on every continent. Today, corn contributes fundamentally to feeding humanity, whether directly in the traditional dishes of countless peoples or indirectly through the production of meat, milk, and eggs that nourish the global population. Its industrial versatility also makes it a raw material for fuels, materials, and other products that drive economies. On a cultural level, corn remains a symbol of identity (for example, in Mexico it is recognized as Cultural Heritage of the Nation and celebrated in annual festivities) and a vehicle for culinary traditions passed down from generation to generation.
Looking ahead, corn’s role will become even more strategic in the face of challenges such as population growth, climate change, and the need to guarantee sustainable food security. It will be crucial to promote innovation in its cultivation—new genetic improvement technologies, conservation agriculture, efficient water management—while also preserving the rich genetic diversity of native corn varieties, the result of centuries of farmer-led selection and a potential key to adapting to changing conditions. In conclusion, corn is not just a crop; it is the cornerstone upon which a large part of global agriculture has been built. Its cultural and economic relevance, forged from ancient times to the contemporary era, ensures that this “golden grain” will continue to be a central element in human nutrition and agricultural development worldwide.
Bibliographic References
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