Wheat

grain · farming · food staple

Ancient grain crop. Wheat was first grown by people in the Fertile Crescent (in modern-day Iraq and Syria) around 9600 BC, making it one of humanity's oldest farmed plants.

Feeds the world. Wheat is a staple food for billions of people today, used to make bread, pasta, cereals, and countless other foods we eat every day.

It's actually a grass. Wheat belongs to a group of wild and domesticated grasses called Triticum, which means it's related to lawn grass and other plants in the grass family.

Many varieties exist. There are several types of wheat, including common wheat, spelt, durum (used for pasta), and emmer, each with different uses and flavors.

Cultivated for seeds. Farmers grow wheat specifically for its grain (seeds), which are packed with nutrition and can be stored for long periods, making it perfect for feeding large populations.