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Ackerman, F., Timothy A., Wise, K.P., Gallagher, L.N and Floers, R. (2003). Environmental Impacts: Fertilizer, pesticides irrigation. Free Trade, Corn and the Environment: Environmental Impacts of US-Mexico Corn Trade Under NAFTA. Retrieved fromhttp://ase.tufts.edu/gdae/pubs/wp/03-06-naftacorn.pdf

Admin. (2009). History of Corn in Canada. AfricaFoodBank. Retrieved fromhttp://africafoodbank.com/2009/06/23/history-of-corn-in-canada/

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2006). Cultural Practices and Production Issues. Crop Profile for Field Corn in Canada. Retrieved from http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2009/agr/A118-10-13-2006E.pdf

Cellania, M. (2010). 10 Ways We Use Corn. Mental Floss. Retrieved from http://mentalfloss.com/article/26030/10-ways-we-use-corn

CGC. (2013). Canadian Corn. Canadian Grain Commission. Retrieved from http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/corn-mais/cmm-mcm-eng.htm

Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOSTAT). (2011). Production of Crops of different countries. Restrieved from http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=567#ancor

George Mateljan Foundation. (2013). Corn. The world’s healthiest foods. Retrieved fromhttp://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=90

USDA NIFA. (2013). Anatomy and Reproduction of Corn. Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary. Retrieved fromhttp://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1075412493&topicorder=3&maxto=12

Vyn, R., & Marchand, L. (2005). Summary of Economic Impacts of the Corn Sector. The economic importance of Ontario’s Corn Sector. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca/research/documents/vyn_Impact_of_Corn_Report.pdf

Wiatrak, P. (2013). Environmental Conditions Affecting Corn Growth. Clemson Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://www.clemson.edu/extension/rowcrops/corn/guide/environmental_conditions.html

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(Villamizar, 2011)

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(Andrewodom,2011)

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This product that which was first planted about 8000 years ago in Mesoamerica has been part of the growth and development from past to current society. (George Mateljan Foundation, 2013). Hence, it still has a significant impact on today’s society. Corn is essential in everyday lives of the current society; it is used as a livestock and for production of food and industrial products. About 25% of 10,000 products found in a supermarket use corn in the finished product. It has many health benefits. Not only it is used in food, currently, it is used for manufacturing products such as absorbents, non-petroleum-based "plastics," and fuel ethanol (ethyl alcohol). (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,2006).

Secondly, it has a significant impact on Canadian’s economy. As shown in the chart previously, corn production creates million jobs in Ontario, both directly and indirectly to corn production. This might include the labour included in harvesting the corn production to production of ethanol that uses corn as main material. Corn product is imported and exported annually and in 2005, the export was $57.7 M which was added and had a significant impact to the total GDP of the economy. (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,2006)

A new area of research has developed involving corn and its potential anti-HIV activity. It is discovered that a specific protein, Lectin, found in corn (called GNAmaize) can inhibit the growth of HIV virus. Lectins are special proteins found in all foods (or organisms) that can bind onto carbohydrates receptors which are found in cell membranes. In some micro organisms such as HIV, the binding of lectins onto sugars has been shown to reduce the activity of the virus. This concludes that corn has become a big part of growth and development in a society not only in Canada but all over the world. (George Mateljan Foundation, 2013)

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In Canada, the field corn produced is harvested as grain or silage. It is grown and produced in an environmentally sustainable method. It is planted taking into account the factors of the soil temperature, appropriate nutrients (especially nitrogen) and the pesticides used in the field. Corn production also depend on hybrid selection and in Canada, almost all varieties are hybrids. The production of GM corn hybrids makes them resistant to many herbicides that reduces the rate of use of chemical substances on the crop.

Corn production in Canada is also conjoined with the production of soybeans alternately. This has the advantage of more weed control options, fewer difficult weed problems, less disease, insect build-up and less nitrogen use, as oppose to growing corn continuously. Production issue such as environmental condition and pest problems are minimal concerns for growers. Weeds are among the major concern for growers as they serve hosts or insects and diseases and compete with the crop for moisture.

(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2006)

There are no complicated process are required for the production of corn that will eventually harm the environment in present and it is expected to stay this way in the future.

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Impact of corn on the Quality of Human Life

Corn has a great impact on the quality of human life. This is evident with the products that contain corn as a necessary ingredient. For example, ethanol which is made from distilled corn grain is what is currently used for cars as gasoline. Corn oil is also used in many cosmetics, soaps, medicines, and other products. This shows that corn makes human lives easier particularly in food and medicine. It’s a fairly easy product to harvest and it has many benefits worldwide as it also creates exports and imports in many different countries. When a country has a high GDP, this makes the standard of living of one country high making the quality of human life good.

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Impact of corn on the Environment

agrochemical impacts resulting from fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides

While these chemicals are necessary for agricultural productivity, they may create problems such as water pollution that can cause problems to human health and natural ecosystems.

potentially unsustainable levels of irrigation

Agriculture has expanded to use of irrigation in dry lands for more crop production. This has raised issue because of scarce resources and overused water from western rivers.

the introduction of genetically modified organisms and effects on biodiversity

Genetically modified corns contain genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) that produce toxins that kill corn insect pests. However, these genes may be transferred into wild relatives that can reduce biodiversity and also create herbicide resistance in weeds. It may affect non targeted organisms like butterflies or insects that help control pests.

(Ackerman et al., 2003)

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Corn is Canada's third largest grain crop after wheat and barley and is the most important one in eastern Canada. 96% of the crop is grown in Eastern Canada (63% in Ontario and 33% in Quebec). (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2006)

This table shows the impact of corn sector in Ontario's economy alone. It is evident that it has a huge impact because of the GDP (total value of the economy). There are also many industries that are indirectly affected by the corn sector giving more jobs than the direct industry alone. Therefore, corn production has a high impact in a Canadian economy because there are other provinces that are specialize on corn production than the Ontario such as Manitoba and Quebec.

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(Vyn & Marchand, 2005)

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Impact of corn on the Economy

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History of use of corn in Canada & worldwide

Canada

> Corn was the great staple of Indians before European settlers arrived

> European settlers learned the use of the cereal and became a staple crop

> had methods of cultivation, selection, seed testing, etc

> Today, Canada produces corn for forage

Worldwide

> was important part of diet for many indian groups

> used all parts of the corn plant

> husks: braided and woven to make masks, moccasins, sleeping mats..

> corncobs: could be useful for fuel, for game darts or for ceremonial use

(Admin, 2009)

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(Canadian Biomass, 2011)

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(Lind, 2011)

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(Lydon, 2010)

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Main countries that produce corn

(Sara's House HD, 2011)

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Penicillin: Corn steep liquor is a byproduct of the process of separating the various parts of corn. Corn steep liquor is the medium in which to grow large quantities of penicillin.

Starch : made from the endosperm of the corn, the part of the seed that exists to nourish the potential new plant

Sugar: Corn syrup is made from corn starch. Starch is a carbohydrate, a molecular chain of sugars. Enzymes are added to the starch to break the chains into sugars, mainly glucose

Ethanol: (Distilled alcohol from grain); ethanol fuel or biofuel made by distilling corn.

Oil: is produced by squeezing the germ of the corn; used as a food ingredient and frying.

(Cellania, 2010)

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Primary parts of Corn Plant

(USDA NIFA, 2013)

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Size: typically 7 – 10 feet tall (2.13- 3.050 m)

Appearance: single stem (stalk) with 16-20 leaves
Growth pattern: vertically upward from the ground

(USDA NIFA, 2013)

Environmental Factors in its habitat:

Temperature: the average is between 67 - 73 F. It also depends of the corn growing season and between daytime and nighttime.

Moisture: Highest corn yields can only be obtained under optimum moisture conditions during the growing season

Growing Degree Day (GDD): corn productivity is correlated with the length of growing season

(Wiatrak, 2013)

Growing areas: U.S produces 40% of the world's harvest, Other top producers include: China, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, France and Argentina

(FAOSTAT, 2011)