Corn Products Now and in the Future

The Iroquois people have used corn and objects made from corn for thousands of years. Today, there are literally thousands of industrial products that are made from corn. Why is it such a practical plant? For one, it has a large starch content. Starch thickens food, removes odours from the air and can be used as an adhesive. Components can also be made into an adhesive.

Industrial researchers believe that in ten years' time, there will be an even greater need for corn's major products: sweeteners, starch and alcohol. They also feel that advances in biotechnology will result in new corn varieties tailored to the needs of corn refiners: more starch content, thicker skins, and built-in enzymes to quickly separate the various components of the kernel in processing. Corn's future in industry appears to be guaranteed. The Missouri Farm Facts website (http://agebb.missouri.edu/mass/indepth/corn/cornppf.htm) has this to say about corn research and the direction it is headed:

The power of biotechnology is catapulting agriculture into the next century. The Plant Genome Initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, will decipher the genetics of corn and other economically significant crops. This research will enable scientists to locate the individual genes which control traits such as stress tolerance, pest and disease resistance, nutritional value, and yield. These genes can then be incorporated into improved crop varieties that will meet the diverse range of producer and consumer needs. Industry analysts anticipate this research and development will result in as much as a 20 percent increase in agricultural production efficiency within 10 years. Potential market values for agricultural commodities are expected to be as high as $67 billion per year in the beginning of the 21st century.

By tracing the ancestry of corn from an ancient wild grass growing in Mexico to an essential food source around the globe, its hardiness throughout history tells us that corn will be with us for a long time to come. Corn cannot exist in the wild and will only survive if sown and protected by humans. Therefore, its future depends on how humans care for and respect this precious commodity. The link between our ancient past, our present day usage and the future do existence.

The following lists just some of the many products that are made from corn.