cash crops and food crops
The majority of corn is used for animal feed, ethanol, starch products (used not just in food processing, but in manufacturing fuel filters, batteries, baby powder, sanitary napkins, and much more...), and sweetener. A 'cash crop' is something which is grown for the generation of capital. A 'non-cash crop' or 'subsistence crop' is grown for direct consumption by the producer, their family, or their livestock. The term 'food crop' is much more ambiguous, and cannot necessarily be differentiated from a 'cash crop'. Many 'food crops' (tomatoes, potatoes, asparagus, apples...) can actually be 'cash crops' if they are produced specifically for the generation of income through sale. Items that are highly perishable and difficult to process or ship tend to be used much more often as 'food crops' than 'cash crops'.
The major non-food cash crops that are exported. are cocoa, coffee, fibre crops, rubber, tea and. tobacco. In. contrast, the term food. crop usually refers to domestic. production of basic staples. (cereals, pulses, roots.