Reading Post #1: A Corn-Packed Food Chain

First learning about how immensely corn contributes to our diet, I was astonished and had to agree that it is a miraculous plant and true blessing to human population. I appreciate the fact that the crop offers so much convenience in my daily life. From the fresh produces to processed food, most products we pick up from the supermarket, where we thought is supposed to offer biodiversity, more or less has something to do with corn. Having a natural ingredient that is so versatile and easy to obtain sounds too perfect. There are downsides to this massive production of corn. I realize that due to our dependence on corn, the breeders are able to take advantage by introducing new hybrid corn that has better yields. Corporation who sees profits in breeding the corns, plays a great role in keeping consumers interested, as Michael Pollan observed:

“The corporation, assured for the first time of a return on its investment in breeding, showered corn with attention—R&D, promotion, advertising—and the plant responded, multiplying its fruitfulness year after year.”

-Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan

If we are what we eat, I wonder what would become of us when the food we consume the most—corn, is no longer so organic and is constantly modified by breeders.