Oats, barley, and some products made from cereal

Cereal crops or grains are mostly grasses cultivated for their edible grains or fruitseeds (i. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Poaceae or Gramineae is a family in the Class Liliopsida of the flowering plants. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored e. , botanically a type of fruit called a caryopsis). The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. In Botany, a caryopsis is a type of simple dry Fruit &mdash one that is monocarpelate (formed from a single Carpel) and Indehiscent (not Cereal grains are grown in greater quantities and provide more energy worldwide than any other type of crop; they are therefore staple crops. A staple food is a Food that forms the basis of a Traditional diet. They are also a rich source of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most In some developing nations, grain in the form of rice or corn, constitutes practically the entire diet of poor people. Developing countries are countries that haven't reached Western-style standards of democratic government free market economy industrialization social programs and human rights guaranties . In developed nations, cereal consumption is both more moderate and varied but still substantial. The term developed country, or advanced country, is used to categorize countries with developed Economies in which the tertiary and quaternary sectors

The word 'cereal' derives from 'Ceres', the name of the pre-Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture. Grains are traditionally called corn in the United Kingdom and Ireland, though that word became specified for maize in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

Production

The following table shows annual production of cereal grains, in 1961,^[1] 2005 and 2006, ranked by 2006 production. ^[2] All but buckwheat and quinoa are true grasses (these two are pseudocereals). Buckwheat refers to plants in two genera of the Dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, and the North American genus For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. Pseudocereals are broadleaf plants (non-grasses that are used in much the same way as Cereals (true cereals are Grasses)

Maize, wheat and rice, between them, accounted for 87% of all grain production, worldwide, and 43% of all food calories in 2003. Pancakes are a type of Flatbread prepared from a sweet batter that is cooked on a hot Griddle or in a Frying pan. Fonio is the term for cultivated grains in the Digitaria genus For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many ^[2] Other grains that are important in some places, but that have little production globally (and are not included in FAO statistics), include:

• Teff, popular in Ethiopia but scarcely known elsewhere. Teff or taf ( Eragrostis tef, Amharic ጤፍ ṭēff, Tigrinya ጣፍ ṭaff) is an annual grass NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page This ancient grain is a staple in Ethiopia. It is high in fiber and protein. Its flour is often used to make injera. Injera ( Ge'ez እንጀራ ɨndʒǝra sometimes transliterated enjera) or taita is a Pancake -like Bread made out of Teff It can also be eaten as a warm breakfast cereal similar to farina with a chocolate or nutty flavor. Farina is a cereal food frequently described as bland-tasting usually served warm made from cereal grains Its flour and whole grain products can usually be found in natural foods stores.
• Wild rice, grown in small amounts in North America
• Amaranth, ancient pseudocereal, formerly a staple crop of the Aztec Empire (besides maize)
• Kañiwa, close relative of quinoa

Several other species of wheat have also been domesticated, some very early in the history of agriculture:

• Spelt, a close relative of common wheat
• Einkorn, a wheat species with a single grain
• Emmer, one of the first crops domesticated in the Fertile Crescent
• Durum, the only tetraploid species of wheat currently cultivated, used to make semolina

Farming

A wheat field in Dorset, England. Wild rice is any of the four species of plants that make up the genus Zizania (common names Canada rice, Indian rice, and water oats Amaranth has been cultivated as a grain for 8000 years. The yield of grain amaranth is comparable to Rice or Maize. Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political Kañiwa is a species of Goosefoot, similar in character and uses to the closely related Quinoa. For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. Spelt ( Triticum spelta) is a Hexaploid species of Wheat. Spelt was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times Einkorn wheat (from German Einkorn, literally "one grain" can refer either to the wild species of Wheat, Triticum boeoticum (the spelling Emmer wheat ( Triticum dicoccon) also known as farro especially in Italy is a low yielding awned Wheat. The Fertile Crescent is a Crescent -shaped region in the Middle East, originally incorporating the Levant and Ancient Mesopotamia, and often Durum wheat or macaroni wheat (also spelled Durhum Triticum durum or Triticum turgidum durum) is the only Tetraploid species of Wheat Polyploidy occurs in cells and Organisms when there are more than two homologous sets of Chromosomes. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Semolina is the purified middlings of hard wheat used in making Pasta; also the coarse middlings used for breakfast cereals puddings and Polenta. Dorset ( (or archaically, Dorsetshire) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

While each individual species has its own peculiarities, the cultivation of all cereal crops is similar. All are annual plants; consequently one planting yields one harvest. Botanically an annual plant is a Plant that usually germinates, Flowers and dies in one Year. Wheat, rye, triticale, oats, barley, and spelt are the cool-season cereals. These are hardy plants that grow well in moderate weather and cease to grow in hot weather (approximately 30 °C but this varies by species and variety). The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. The other warm-season cereals are tender and prefer hot weather.

Barley and rye are the hardiest cereals, able to overwinter in the subarctic and Siberia. The Subarctic is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic and covering much of Alaska, Canada and Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Many cool-season cereals are grown in the tropics. However, some are only grown in cooler highlands, where it may be possible to grow multiple crops in a year.

Planting

The warm-season cereals are grown in tropical lowlands year-round and in temperate climates during the frost-free season. Rice is commonly grown in flooded fields, though some strains are grown on dry land. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Other warm climate cereals, such as sorghum, are adapted to arid conditions. Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, some of which are raised for grain and many of which are used as Fodder plants either cultivated or as part

Cool-season cereals are well-adapted to temperate climates. Most varieties of a particular species are either winter or spring types. Winter varieties are sown in the autumn, germinate and grow vegetatively, then become dormant during winter. Dormancy is a period in an organism's life cycle when growth development and (in animals physical activity is temporarily suspended They resume growing in the springtime and mature in late spring or early summer. This cultivation system makes optimal use of water and frees the land for another crop early in the growing season. Winter varieties do not flower until springtime because they require vernalization (exposure to low temperature for a genetically determined length of time). Where winters are too warm for vernalization or exceed the hardiness of the crop (which varies by species and variety), farmers grow spring varieties. Spring cereals are planted in early springtime and mature later that same summer, without vernalization. Spring cereals typically require more irrigation and yield less than winter cereals.

Harvest

Once the cereal plants have grown their seeds, they have completed their life cycle. The plants die and become brown and dry. As soon as the parent plants and their seed kernels are reasonably dry, harvest can begin.

In developed countries, cereal crops are universally machine-harvested, typically using a combine harvester, which cuts, threshes, and winnows the grain during a single pass across the field. The combine harvester, or simply combine, also known as a thresher is a machine that combines the Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of Cereal Grain from the scaly inedible Chaff that surrounds it Wind winnowing is an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures for separating grain from Chaff. In developing countries, a variety of harvesting methods are in use, from combines to hand tools such as the scythe or cradle. For the ancient Sicilian tyrant see Scythes. A scythe (ˈsaɪð from Old English siðe. A cradle is an agricultural tool a form of the Scythe, used to reap grain

If a crop is harvested during wet weather, the grain may not dry adequately in the field to prevent spoilage during its storage. In this case, the grain is sent to a dehydrating facility, where artificial heat dries it.

In North America, farmers commonly deliver their newly harvested grain to a grain elevator, a large storage facility that consolidates the crops of many farmers. History Grain elevators are a common sight in the grain-growing areas of the world such as the North American Prairies Larger terminal elevators are The farmer may sell the grain at the time of delivery or maintain ownership of a share of grain in the pool for later sale.

Food value

Chickens are often fed grains such as wheat

Cereal grains supply most of their food energy as starch. Food energy is the amount of Energy in food that is available through Digestion. Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide They are also a significant source of protein, though the amino acid balance, with exceptions as noted below, is not optimal. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl In Chemistry, an amino acid is a Molecule containing both Amine and Carboxyl Functional groups In Biochemistry, this Whole grains (see below) are good sources of dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, and other important nutrients. Whole grains are cereal grains that Bran and germ as well as the Endosperm, in contrast to Refined grains, which retain only Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Essential fatty acids, or EFAs are Fatty acids that cannot be constructed within an organism from other components (generally all references are to humans by any known chemical A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment

Rice is eaten as cooked entire grains, although rice flour is also produced. Oats are rolled, ground, or cut into bits (steel-cut oats) and cooked into porridge. Porridge, or porage, is a simple dish made by boiling Oats (normally crushed oats occasionally Oatmeal) or another cereal in Water Most other cereals are ground into flour or meal, which is milled. Flour is a powder made of Cereal grains It is the key ingredient of Bread, which is a staple food in many countries and therefore the availability The outer layers of bran and germ are removed (see seed). A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored This lessens the nutritional value but makes the grain more resistant to degradation and makes the grain more appealing to many palates. Nutrition (also called nourishment or aliment) is the provision to cells and Organisms of the materials necessary (in the form of food to support Health-conscious people tend to prefer whole grains, which are not milled. Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Overconsumption of milled cereals is sometimes blamed for obesity. Obesity is a condition in which excess Body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected Milled grains do keep better because the outer layers of the grains are rich in rancidity-prone fats. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water The waste from milling is sometimes mixed into a prepared animal feed. In Agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any Foodstuff that is used specifically to feed Domesticated Livestock, such as

Once (optionally) milled and ground, the resulting flour is made into bread, pasta, desserts, dumplings, and many other products. Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. Pasta ( Italian for "dough" is a generic term for Italian variants of Noodles. Dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal usually consisting of sweet Food but sometimes of a strongly-flavored one such as some Cheeses The Dumplings are "piece of Dough, sometimes filled that cooked in liquid such as water or soup" or "sweetened dough wrapped around fruit such as an apple baked Besides cereals, flour is sometimes made from potatoes, chestnuts and pulses (especially chickpeas, which is known as besan). The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Chestnut ( Castanea) (including some chinkapin or Chinquapin) is a Genus of eight or nine Species of Deciduous Pulses are annual leguminous crops yielding from one to twelve Grains or Seeds of variable size shape and color within a Pod, according The chickpea ( Cicer arietinum) (also garbanzo bean, Indian pea, ceci bean, bengal gram, chana, kadale kaalu, Gram flour is a Flour made from ground Chana dal, a lentil similar to chickpeas

Cereals are the main source of energy providing about 350 kcal per 100 grams. Cereal proteins are typically poor in nutritive quality, being deficient in essential amino acid lysine. Lysine (abbreviated as Lys or K) is an α- Amino acid with the Chemical formula HO2CCH(NH2(CH24NH2 The proteins of maize are particularly poor, being deficient in lysine and tryptophan (a precursor of niacin). Tryptophan (abbreviated as Trp or W) is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an Essential amino acid in the Human diet Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease Pellagra. Rice proteins are richer in lysine than other common cereal proteins and for this reason, rice protein is considered to be of better quality. Rice is a good source of B group vitamins, especially thiamine. A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 It is devoid of vitamins A, D, C and is a poor source of calcium and iron. Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26

Certain grains, including quinoa, buckwheat, and grain amaranth (Pseudocereal, non-grasses), are exceptionally nutrious. For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. Buckwheat refers to plants in two genera of the Dicot family Polygonaceae: the Eurasian genus Fagopyrum, and the North American genus Amaranth has been cultivated as a grain for 8000 years. The yield of grain amaranth is comparable to Rice or Maize. Pseudocereals are broadleaf plants (non-grasses that are used in much the same way as Cereals (true cereals are Grasses) Quinoa was classified as a "supercrop" by the United Nations because of its high protein content (12-18%). For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete source of protein in plants.

In English, cold breakfast cereals, as opposed to cooked porridges such as oatmeal, are simply called cereal. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A breakfast cereal (often simply called cereal is a packaged food product made from Cereal intended to be consumed as part of a Breakfast. Breakfast cereal health benefits There has been increasing interest in oatmeal in recent years due to its beneficial health effects

Global market

As of late 2007, increased farming for use in biofuels,^[4] world oil prices at $130 a barrel as of 2Q 2008, The global grain bubble]</ref> global population growth,^[5] climate change,^[6] loss of agricultural land to residential and industrial development,^[7][8], growing consumer demand in China and India^[9] and feeding 635 million tons per year to livestock as fodder have pushed up the price of grain. This article is about the price of crude oil see Gasoline usage and pricing for information about derivative motor fuels Population growth is the change in Population over time and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals in a population using "per unit time" for Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country In Agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any Foodstuff that is used specifically to feed Domesticated Livestock, such as ^[10] Food riots have recently taken place in many countries across the world. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an Riots are a form of Civil disorders characterized by disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of Violence, Vandalism or other ^[11][12][13]

Water deficits, causing decrease in grain production, is one cause of grain independence. Water Crisis is a term that refers to the status of the world’s Water resources relative to human demand It already spurs heavy grain imports in numerous smaller countries, may soon do the same in larger countries, such as China or India. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[14] The water tables are falling in scores of countries (including Northern China, the US, and India) due to widespread overpumping using powerful diesel and electric pumps. Other countries affected include Pakistan, Iran, and Mexico. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. This will eventually lead to water scarcity and cutbacks in grain harvest. Even with the overpumping of its aquifers, China is developing a grain deficit. An aquifer is an underground layer of Water -bearing Permeable rock or unconsolidated materials ( Gravel, Sand, Silt, or Clay When this happens, it will almost certainly drive grain prices upward. Most of the 3 billion people projected to be added worldwide by mid-century will be born in countries already experiencing water shortages. Water Crisis is a term that refers to the status of the world’s Water resources relative to human demand One suggested solution is for population growth to be slowed quickly by investing heavily in female literacy and family planning services. Population growth is the change in Population over time and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals in a population using "per unit time" for traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, Family planning is frequently used to mean that people plan when to have children using Birth control, preconceptional counseling. ^[15] Desalination is also considered a viable and effective solution to the problem of water shortages. Desalination, desalinization, or desalinisation refers to any of several processes that remove excess salt and other Minerals from Water ^[16][17]

After China and India, there is a second tier of smaller countries with large water deficits — Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, and Pakistan. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Four of these already import a large share of their grain. Only Pakistan remains self-sufficient. But with a population expanding by 4 million a year, it will also likely soon turn to the world market for grain. ^[18]

See also

• Food price crisis

Notes

External links

• Home Grown Cereals Authority website. Retrieved on 2006-09-08. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz
• Cereals by the Vegetarian Society