Corn currently accounts for more than one tenth of our global crop production. And over 99% of cultivated corn is the exact same type: Yellow Dent #2. This means that humans grow more Yellow Dent #2 than any other plant on the planet. So how did this single variety of this single plant become the biggest success story in agricultural history? Chris Kniesly investigates the rise of this wonder-crop. [Directed by Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson]. 

Chris A. Kniesly: How corn conquered the world

How corn conquered the world

Yellow Dent #2 corn's dominance furthered by WWII innovations, transforming agriculture with rapid harvesting and synthetic fertilizers.

1972's policy change under Nixon spiked corn production, leading to its ubiquity in foods, feeds, and industrial products worldwide.

Corn's rise exposes environmental challenges: water pollution, carbon emissions, and a food supply vulnerable to disease and pests.