Scientists someday will devel op corn that carries human vaccines. They've already changed corn to better meet the requirements of processors or other end users, such as hogs. A new hybrid that will be available in 2000, when fed to animals, cuts phosphorus in manure by 25 to 40 percent. Using such corn will prevent overload ing the soil with phosphorus when the manure is used as fertilizer. Futurists predict that farmers in the 21st century will plant genetically altered corn under contract for specific users.
Corn enters the new century with new identities and as yet unknown possibilities.