It is sometimes called maize or corn, but it is the most widely grown crop in the world. The bulk of it is used as livestock feed and indirectly by humans.
The term maize is taken from its Latin name for the purposes of this article. Zea mays, will be used instead of corn, which is preferred by the US (although it’s worth noting that the US also tends use maize in scientific settings).
Maize is The most widely grown cereal crop in the entire world. Although it has sustainability issues, it is essential for food security and can empower women in agriculture.
The US is the most important country in the world when it comes maize production. In 2021, however, nearly 40% (38.1%) of the US’s maize production went to animal feed. 28.8% went to ethanol for fuel. 16.3% were exported.
Sustainability concerns are paramount for maize
The US’s maize production is a good example for the problems the crop can cause. Margaret Smith, associate dean and professor at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Science explains one of the drawbacks of maize production. Its nutritional requirements, which can cause long-term sustainability problems.
Smith says that it is a nitrogen-intensive crop and requires a lot of nitrogen to thrive. Smith says the problem with nitrogen in soil is its mobility. However, Smith notes that there are ways to solve this problem.
Smith says that recent price increases in fertilisers can make a significant impact on the economic viability and economic viability of corn cultivation.
The US has challenges with maize production. This is especially true in the Corn Belt of Midwest. Any work done on a large scale can pose sustainability challenges.
It does not look like a natural ecosystem. This is not, in the grand scheme of things, a healthy agricultural system. The soils are extremely good for these two crops.
Maize, food safety and female empowerment
The crop is important in many parts Africa, beyond the US borders and sustainability concerns around maize production.
Even though only about 12 percent of Africa’s maize is used for food, it is crucial for Africa’s food security, Erin Collier of UNs Food and Agriculture Organization trade and markets tells us. Investment Monitor.
According to A paper on food safety starting in 2011Maize provides at most 30% of the food calories for more than 4.5 million people in 94 emerging countries. This includes wheat and rice. These figures include 900 million people who are poor and maize is their staple food.
Maize varieties that are drought-tolerant are also available Helping to beat the harsh conditions in sub Saharan AfricaResearch International Food Policy Research InstituteStudies have shown that maize cultivation can increase yields and empower women.
These findings show that maize farms managed by both men and women are more productive if the women who tend them are empowered. These households are more likely then to adopt technologies that improve crop yields.
Impact of war in Ukraine on maize market
Recently, maize’s importance has been highlighted internationally when Ukraine, one the world’s top producers, was invaded in February by Russia, causing prices and rises.
Collier states that Ukraine exports maize most to China and the EU. She adds that these countries can import supplies from other countries. However, Collier warns that problems could arise if global supplies become more tight. The hardest hit countries will be those in Africa where maize is a major food source and they rely on imports.
We had Ukraine’s export forecast for the entire 202122 period, which runs from July 2021 to June 2022, before the conflict began, she says.
Collier says that Ukraine had already exported approximately half this maize, and was likely to export another 16 million tonnes during the remainder of the season. Collier says that if the war prevents these exports, then demand will shift to other places.”The US, Brazil and Argentina are the main exporters of maize in the world, so those countries would have a greater demand.” [placed]They are yours.
Collier adds that while there are promising signs in Argentina and Brazil of record harvests, this could help to bridge the gap. However, there have also been some dry conditions for the past few month in Argentina and Brazil as their crops are thriving.
Collier concludes that even if other suppliers are able to make up the shortfall, a decrease in Ukraine’s production will cause upward pressure on the maize markets.
There are many challenges facing agriculture in the coming years. Maize production is one of them. While the crop will continue to be vitally important around the globe, the environmental damage it causes will be more prominent as the UN’s 2030 deadline approaches. Sustainable Development Goal targets gets ever nearer. Given the potential social benefit that maize has, solving these problems is vital to the future of the planet.
This article is the second in a series on large crop profiles. We covered wheat previously, and we will be covering rice and soybeans in the coming weeks.