Definition of Staple Crops

Staple crops are the most common foods in people's diets. They vary from region to region, often depending on the weather, type of soil and topography. Staple crops are typically either starchy root vegetables that can be stored for long periods, or cereal grains.

Identification

Worldwide, the major staple crops include barley, cassava, corn (maize), lentils, various types of millet, oats, potatoes, rice, rye, sorghum, soybeans, sweet potatoes and yams, and wheat. Depending on the region, either rice or corn is the most important staple crop, with wheat second as the favored bread grain. Potatoes typically are third or fourth. Most staple crops are grown on every continent except Antarctica.

Geography

Barley is one of the earliest staple crops listed in historical records, and is mentioned many times in the Bible. It has gradually decreased in importance, however. Cassava, a starch root crop similar to yams, is a staple crop in parts of Asia, Africa and parts of South America. Lentils are a staple in the Mediterranean region of Europe, Asia and Africa. Yams, millet and sorghum are more important in Asia and Africa than elsewhere.

Significance

The staples are a good source of calories, without excess fat and protein. Rice and corn are most commonly eaten as the entire cooked grain. The other grains are milled into flour or meal to make bread products, pasta or porridge, and rice and corn can be utilized this way as well. Root vegetables also are mashed to make porridge, or can be made into flour. Many staple foods are often included in soups and stews.

Considerations

These foods do not provide all vitamin and minerals necessary in the human diet, and societies forced to rely on them endure malnutrition and starvation. Genetic engineers developing staple crops with higher nutritional values, so people in third world and developing countries can have a better chance at healthy eating. BioCassava Plus with enhanced levels of iron, zinc and vitamins A and E, along with golden rice which has added beta carotene and iron, are two examples.

Features

Some regions have staple crops other than the norm. In Ethiopia, for instance, a grain called teff is a staple crop. In parts of equatorial Africa, the fruit plantain is the major staple crop. Breadfruit is a staple in Polynesia, and olives are a staple crop in rural Palestine.

Resources

• Biotechnology for sustainable agriculture