The new corn known as maize outside North America contains nearly twice as much usable protein as other maize grown in the tropics and yields 10 percent more grain. The new maize was developed through traditional plant breeding. The problem is that diets high in maize lack two essential amino acids needed to prevent malnutrition. The varieties produce 70-100 percent more of two essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan than the most modern varieties of tropical maize.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are needed by all cells in the body.
But because most maize is deficient in lysine and tryptophan, maize-dependent diets can lead to malnutrition. According to the United Nations Development Programme, almost one billion people living in developing countries are malnourished and most do not consume enough protein for good health. Maize is the world s most widely grown cereal crop and an essential food source for millions of the world s poor. More than half of the world s malnourished children live in countries where maize is an important food. In 20 developing countries, primarily in Latin America and Africa, maize gruel is the main food mothers use to wean their babies, and maize is the single largest source of calories.