Maize is a major staple food grain throughout the world, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and a major feedstuff in developed countries. The maize grain has many foods (grain, flour, syrup, oil…) and non-food usages (cosmetics, adhesives, paints, varnishes). Maize starch and oil are also major products. The maize grain is a major feed grain and a standard component of livestock diets where it is used as a source of energy. Other grains are typically compared to maize when their nutritional value is estimated. Many by-products of maize processing for flour (hominy feed, bran, germs, oil meal), starch (corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal), and alcohol/biofuel industries (distillers’ dried grains and soluble) can be fed to animals.

Maize breeders have created many cultivars that correspond to specific climatic or agronomic conditions and uses. “Dent corn” maize is the most widely grown type of maize and the one typically used for feed. Other types (flint corn, popcorn, sweet corn, flour corn) are more intended for food uses. Some varieties have been created to improve the industrial or nutritional value: high lysine, high tryptophan, high oil, high amylase, low phytate, etc. Brown midrib maize has a lower lignin content resulting in an increased digestibility in livestock. Genetically modified (GM) maize varieties have been designed to improve grain performances (herbicide resistance, pest resistance, higher yields).