Post 53. Our relationship with cultivated plants
Early humans are often described as 'hunter-gatherers' and over time in the UK we have started to cultivate plants such as cereals. Many of the foods first cultivated in neolithic times still are the main focus of our diets today. The varieties we grow today may have changed but wheat, barley, rice, maize(corn).
Key facts:
Close to 60% of calories in developing countries are derived directly from cereals, exceeding 80% in the poorest countries[1] - often leading to micronutrient deficiency because of the lack of diversity in the diet.
Rice is the most important source of calories for humans across the world contributing around 27% of calories consumed in developing countries. In 2020/21 global rice production was 508 million tonnes mainly directly for human consumption.[2]
Global wheat production in 2020/21 was 778.6 million tonnes.[3] Wheat is a food source for both animals (feed wheat is around 40% of total) and for humans.
Soybean production in 2018 was around 348.7 million tonnes [4] and around three quarters is fed to animals. In 1961 it was 26.88 million tonnes - a truly significant change in global land use.
Maize too is predominantly used for animal feed where one study suggests only 13% is directly used for human food. [4]
Interesting statistics indeed.
[1] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/bk-2011-1089.ch001
[2] http://www.worldagriculturalproduction.com/crops/rice.aspx
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