Corn: the kings of the fields

Corn's arrival in Europe, credited to Christopher Columbus and other explorers, rapidly expanded across all regions apt for its farming. Mariners transporting corn seeds across the Atlantic did not anticipate their profound impact on the Old World's environment, dietary habits, and economic structure. Corn's incorporation into European life revolutionized farming methods and upended traditional norms, leading to a significant shift in agricultural paradigms.
Occupying approximately 240 million hectares, This nutrient-rich crop dramatically transformed European diets. Its cultivation brought about notable social and economic shifts, including new tax implications and the rise of illicit trade. Corn's introduction significantly reshaped European agriculture, the economy, and the daily existence in unexpected ways. The crop's bountiful harvests diversified European diets and contributed to population growth.
Moreover, the economy benefitted as corn emerged as a key export commodity. The culinary landscape underwent a revolution as well, with corn's adoption spurring the development of novel European culinary dishes and techniques. This period also saw innovation in agricultural technology and the introduction of new livestock feeds. In essence, corn induced societal transformations, with economic fluctuations in its trading and farming altering social hierarchies and class dynamics in certain areas.
Worldwide, corn covers around 240 million hectares (FAO STAT, 2019), providing roughly 30 percent of the caloric intake for over 4.5 billion individuals, predominantly in developing nations. The corn market is projected to grow from an estimated $143.62 billion in 2024 to $166.57 billion by 2029, with an anticipated growth rate of 3.01 percent over the five-year period. The European corn market, valued at $34.85 billion in 2023, is expected to increase to $40.95 billion by 2028, experiencing a growth rate of 3.28 percent over five years. The last decade has seen significant market evolution, propelled by a surge in production facilitated by biotechnological progress in cereal cultivation. Notably, the increase in corn yields within the European Union has been largely driven by remarkable growth in Romania (+46.8 percent) and France (+14.5 percent).
Leading corn producers in Europe include Ukraine, France, Italy, and Romania. Across the 27 EU member states, the land dedicated to corn for grain totals 8 million hectares, and for silage, 5 million hectares. Ukraine alone accounts for nearly 10 percent of the global corn output.