Agriculture and Environment: Commodities

Table of Facts: Corn/Maize (Zea mays)

Production
Area Under Cultivation - 138.7 million ha
Global Production - 593.0 million MT
Average Productivity - 4,274 kg/ha
Producer Price - $111 per MT
Producer Production Value - $65,837 million

International Trade
Share of World Production - 14%
Exports - 81.8 million MT
Average Price - $107 per MT
Value - $8,733 million

Principal Producing Countries/Blocs
(by weight)
United States, China, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, France, India

Principal Exporting Countries/Blocs
United States, Argentina, China, France


Principal Importing Countries/Blocs
Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Egypt, China, Spain, Malaysia


Major Environmental Impacts

• Habitat conversion
• Soil erosion and degradation
• Agrochemical inputs
• Water use and pollution

Potential to Improve

• Good for commercial and subsistence agriculture
• BMPs are known that reduce impacts for a wide range of production systems
• BMPs save money and increase profits
• Conservation tillage reduces inputs and impacts
• Plant breeding can reduce impacts

Source: FAO 2002. All data for 2000.