Maize quick facts

What is maize?

Maize (Zea mays) is a tropical grass that is grown primarily for grain and is used as a staple food in many parts of the world. It produces relatively large, soft grains, called kernels that are usually yellow in color, although some varieties come in other colors, like blue, red, and multicolored.

Where did maize come from?

Based on archaeological evidence, scientists think that maize was first domesticated around 10,000 years ago in the Balsas Valley of Mexico, which is southwest of modern-day Mexico City. The wild ancestors of maize were plants known as teosinte (Zea spp.), which had branching stems, small ears, and hard kernels. Over the thousands of years since its domestication, humans have selected maize to have more kernels, larger ears with more rows of kernels, and exposed (soft) kernels. Modern maize plants have been improved through selective breeding, and some varieties are genetically engineered using genes from bacteria to make them pest- and herbicide-resistant.

Is maize corn?

The term “maize” comes to English through Spanish (maíz), and ultimately originates from the word mahiz of the now-extinct Taíno language (the language of the Taíno people, one of the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean islands). The first known use of the word "maize" was in the 1500s, after European explorers came to the Americas and first encountered the plant.

Originally, the term “corn” was a general term for any grain in English. In the U.S., Australia, and Canada, "corn" has since come to refer specifically to maize. Thus, the terms “maize” and “corn” are often used interchangeably. In contrast, “corn” may still be used to refer to other grains in British English.

How is maize used?

Maize is grown primarily for its kernels, which are high in starch, but also contain fiber, oil, and protein. Among its many uses, whole or milled maize grain (for example, corn flour and corn meal) is a food source for people and livestock, such as chickens, cows, and hogs. 

Corn oil is used in processed foods and personal care products, like shampoo and cosmetics. Cornstarch is used as a binding and thickening agent and is found in a wide variety of processed foods and other products. Cornstarch can also be broken down into sugars to make sweeteners like corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Maize starch converted to sugars can be fermented to make ethanol-based biofuels or alcoholic beverages like bourbon. The major components of the maize kernel have many other industrial uses and appear in surprising products, like disposable diapers, fireworks, and paints.

Maize stover (the stalk and leaves) may also be collected for a variety of uses, including livestock feed and kitty litter. Stover is also of interest as a source of biomass for potential cellulosic ethanol biofuel production.

How is maize grown?

Like other grass grain crops, maize is grown in cultivated fields. Maize is grown from seed as an annual crop, meaning that it reaches maturity in one growing season. Maize is primarily a cross-pollinated plant, and pollination and fertilization are important to grain yields. Most commercially produced maize comes from hybrid and genetically engineered seeds. In order to maintain the consistency of the crop and the vigor of the plants in commercial operations, a fresh batch of hybrid seeds must be purchased for each new crop.

Where is maize grown?

Maize can be grown in large parts of the temperate zone because it is an annual crop that does not require an extremely long growing season. Today, maize is the world's number two commodity crop, after sugarcane. The top producers of maize are the United States and China, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, and India.