Top Cereal Producing Countries

Cereal farming has been fundamental to the development of human civilization, with its origins tracing back over 10,000 years to the Fertile Crescent, where wheat and barley were first domesticated. Over time, cereal cultivation spread to other regions: rice was domesticated in East Asia, and maize in Mesoamerica. Today, the top countries farming cereals are China, India, the United States, Russia, and Brazil. China and India lead global rice and wheat production, feeding billions, while the United States dominates maize (corn) output, much of it for animal feed and industrial use. Russia is a major wheat exporter, and Brazil, with its vast arable land, has rapidly increased its maize and wheat production. The global spread and improvement of cereal crops have been driven by advances in agricultural techniques, plant breeding, and, more recently, biotechnology, ensuring cereals remain the backbone of the world’s food supply.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat