The history of the world according to corn - Chris A. Kniesly

TED-Ed
26 Nov 201905:22
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRCorn, originating from teosinte in Mesoamerica, has become the most cultivated plant globally, with Yellow Dent #2 being the predominant variety. Its journey from a staple crop in the Americas to a versatile commodity in Europe was marked by selective breeding and adaptation to various climates. The standardization of corn in the 19th century, coupled with post-WWII technological advancements and policy changes, led to its widespread production and use in diverse industries. However, this success story has environmental and health implications, including pollution, carbon emissions, and the risks associated with monoculture farming.

Takeaways
  • 🌽 Corn is a major global crop, accounting for over 10% of the world's production.
  • 📈 The United States has vast cornfields, large enough to cover a country like Germany.
  • 🌟 More than 99% of cultivated corn is Yellow Dent #2, making it the most grown plant on Earth.
  • 🌽🌾 Corn was domesticated from teosinte in Mesoamerica nearly 9,000 years ago.
  • 🌍 Maize spread throughout the Americas and became a staple crop, with a 'Corn Mother' deity in indigenous cultures.
  • 🌽 Europeans initially shunned corn but eventually embraced it due to its versatility and ability to grow in various climates.
  • 🚂 In the 1850s, trade boards encouraged the standardization of corn to facilitate packaging and sales, leading to the dominance of Yellow Dent #2.
  • 🛠 Post-WWII technological advancements, like mechanized harvesters and synthetic fertilizers, boosted corn production.
  • 📈 The removal of agricultural production limits by President Nixon in 1972, coupled with new trade deals, led to a corn production boom.
  • 🌽🔄 Only 40% of cultivated corn is consumed by humans; the rest supports industries, including animal feed and consumer goods.
  • 💧🌍 The spread of corn cultivation has environmental impacts, including water pollution and increased carbon emissions, and raises concerns about food security due to monoculture farming.
Q & A

  • What is the significance of corn in global crop production?

    -Corn accounts for more than one tenth of the world's crop production, making it a highly significant agricultural product.

  • How does the United States contribute to global corn production?

    -The United States alone has enough cornfields to cover an area the size of Germany, indicating its substantial contribution to global corn production.

  • Why is Yellow Dent #2 the predominant variety of corn cultivated?

    -Over 99% of cultivated corn is Yellow Dent #2 because it became the standardized crop due to its uniformity, which made it easier for trade and mechanized harvesting.

  • What was the original form of corn before domestication?

    -Corn was first domesticated from teosinte, a grass native to Mesoamerica, which had rock-hard seeds and a fibrous husk.

  • How did maize spread and become important in the Americas?

    -As maize spread throughout the Americas, it became a staple crop and was revered by multiple indigenous societies, with some considering a 'Corn Mother' as the goddess of agriculture.

  • What changed the European perception of corn?

    -European settlers initially shunned corn, but after their attempts to cultivate European crops in American soil failed, they expanded their diet and found corn to their taste, leading to its acceptance and spread across the Atlantic.

  • How did the United States become the corn capital of the world?

    -In the early 1800s, different regions in the U.S. produced various strains of corn. By the 1850s, trade boards encouraged farmers to breed a standardized crop, leading to the dominance of Yellow Dent corn.

  • What technological developments after World War II influenced corn production?

    -Mechanized harvesters and synthetic fertilizers like ammonium nitrate made corn production more efficient and allowed for year-round dense planting without crop rotation.

  • What policy change in 1972 significantly impacted corn production?

    -President Richard Nixon removed limitations on the amount of corn farmers could grow, which, combined with new trade deals and technological advancements, led to a surge in corn production.

  • What are some of the negative impacts of the widespread cultivation of corn?

    -The extensive cultivation of corn has led to global water pollution from excess ammonium nitrate, increased agriculture-related carbon emissions, potential health issues from high fructose corn syrup, and vulnerability of the food supply to pests and diseases due to monoculture farming.

  • How has corn usage evolved beyond human consumption?

    -Corn is used in numerous industries beyond direct human consumption, including as a thickening agent in various products, a low-cost sweetener, and as a cheap animal feed, which has increased the demand for meat.

Outlines
00:00
🌽 The Rise of Yellow Dent #2 Corn

This paragraph discusses the global dominance of Yellow Dent #2 corn, accounting for over 99% of cultivated corn. It traces the history of corn from its domestication 9,000 years ago in Mesoamerica to its spread across the Americas and eventual acceptance in Europe. The standardization of corn varieties in the United States, particularly at the 1893 World's Fair, and the impact of post-WWII technological advancements and agricultural policies on corn production are highlighted. The paragraph also touches on the diverse uses of corn, from a food source to an ingredient in various industrial products, and the environmental and health concerns associated with its widespread cultivation.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Corn
Corn, also known as maize, is the central focus of the video. It is a cereal grain that is a staple food in many parts of the world. The video discusses the historical origins of corn, its domestication from teosinte, and its rise to becoming the most cultivated plant globally. The term 'corn' is used to illustrate the crop's significance in agriculture, its impact on the environment, and its various industrial and dietary uses.
💡Teosinte
Teosinte is a grass native to Mesoamerica from which corn was first domesticated nearly 9,000 years ago. It had rock-hard seeds that were barely edible but its fibrous husk could be turned into a versatile material. The transformation of teosinte into a staple crop with larger cobs and edible kernels over thousands of years is a testament to early agricultural practices and the domestication process.
💡Yellow Dent #2
Yellow Dent #2 is a specific variety of corn that has become the predominant type cultivated worldwide, accounting for over 99% of all corn grown. This standardization has been influenced by factors such as ease of packaging and trading. The video highlights the historical event at the 1893 World’s Fair where Yellow Dent corn won the Blue Ribbon, leading to its widespread adoption.
💡Agricultural History
The term 'agricultural history' refers to the study of how farming and crop cultivation have evolved over time. In the context of the video, it is used to discuss the domestication of corn from teosinte and its journey to becoming a global agricultural staple. The video outlines the significant role corn has played in shaping human diets and economies throughout history.
💡Industrial Uses
Industrial uses refer to the application of corn in manufacturing and other non-food industries. Cornstarch, for instance, can be used as a thickening agent in products ranging from gasoline to glue and is processed into High-Fructose Corn Syrup. The video emphasizes how corn has transcended its role as a food source to become a key ingredient in numerous consumer goods, contributing to its massive production and global reach.
💡Monoculture Farming
Monoculture farming is the practice of growing a single crop over a large area, which in the case of the video, is Yellow Dent #2 corn. This approach has made corn farming more efficient but also more vulnerable to pests and diseases, as a single virus could potentially affect the entire global supply. The video discusses the risks associated with relying on a single variety of a crop, highlighting the sustainability concerns of such agricultural practices.
💡Environmental Impact
Environmental impact refers to the effects that human activities, such as agriculture, have on the natural environment. In the context of the video, it discusses how the widespread cultivation of corn, particularly with the use of synthetic fertilizers like ammonium nitrate, has led to pollution of global water sources and increased agriculture-related carbon emissions. The video also touches on the role of corn in enabling increased meat production, which in turn contributes to higher carbon emissions.
💡High-Fructose Corn Syrup
High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a low-cost sweetener produced from cornstarch. It is widely used in the food industry, particularly in soft drinks and processed foods. The video discusses the role of HFCS as an industrial product derived from corn and its potential contribution to health issues such as diabetes and obesity. The prevalence of HFCS illustrates the extensive reach of corn in the food industry and its potential health implications.
💡Animal Feed
Animal feed refers to the food given to livestock, and in the context of the video, it highlights the use of corn as a primary ingredient in feed. The video explains how the affordability of corn as an animal feed has facilitated inexpensive meat production, thereby increasing the demand for both meat and corn feed. This relationship between corn production and meat consumption underscores the crop's significant role in the global food chain.
💡World Trade
World trade involves the exchange of goods and services between countries. The video discusses a pivotal moment in 1972 when President Richard Nixon removed limitations on corn production in the United States, leading to a surge in corn exports, particularly to the Soviet Union. This trade deal, coupled with technological advancements from World War II, propelled corn production to a global scale.
💡Sustainability
Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain a process or resource use over the long term without causing harm or depletion. In the video, the concept of sustainability is explored in the context of corn farming, highlighting the potential unsustainability of monoculture practices, environmental pollution, and the health implications of corn-derived products. The video suggests that while corn has been a success story in agricultural history, its impact on the environment and human health raises questions about the sustainability of current farming practices.
Highlights

Corn accounts for over 10% of global crop production, making it a dominant agricultural product.

The United States has vast cornfields, extensive enough to cover an area the size of Germany.

Despite the existence of various crop varieties, over 99% of cultivated corn is the Yellow Dent #2 type.

The journey of corn began nearly 9,000 years ago with its domestication from teosinte in Mesoamerica.

Teosinte's transformation from an inedible grass to a staple crop with edible kernels took 4,700 years of selective breeding by farmers.

In the Americas, maize held religious significance, with many indigenous societies revering a 'Corn Mother' deity.

European settlers initially shunned maize, but eventually embraced it due to its adaptability to various climates.

The United States remained the corn capital of the world, with regional strains of different sizes and tastes.

The standardization of corn was encouraged in the 1850s for ease of packaging and trade, leading to the dominance of Yellow Dent #2.

James Reid's Yellow Dent corn won the Blue Ribbon at the 1893 World’s Fair, marking a turning point for corn's popularity.

Post-World War II technological developments, such as mechanized harvesters, drastically reduced the time required to harvest corn.

Ammonium nitrate, a wartime technology, was repurposed as a synthetic fertilizer that allowed for continuous corn cultivation without crop rotation.

US agricultural policy initially limited corn production but was later removed by President Nixon in 1972, leading to a surge in corn production.

Corn's versatility has led to its use in a wide range of products, from gasoline to glue, and as a low-cost sweetener, High-Fructose Corn Syrup.

As one of the cheapest animal feeds, corn has contributed to the affordability of meat production worldwide.

Only 40% of cultivated corn is consumed by humans, while the remaining 60% supports various consumer goods industries globally.

The extensive use of corn has environmental repercussions, including water pollution and increased carbon emissions.

The reliance on a single corn variety for the majority of global production poses a significant risk to food security due to potential pests and diseases.

Corn's evolution from a grass to an essential industrial element raises questions about its long-term sustainability.

Transcripts

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AgriculturalHistoryMaizeEvolutionIndustrialRevolutionWorldFairsTechnologicalAdvancementsAgriculturalPolicyGlobalTradeEnvironmentalImpactHealthConcernsMonocultureRisks