Corn is one of the world's most important carbohydrate-producing food crops, along with wheat and rice. Today, corn has also become an important component of animal feed. Other uses are as a source of edible oil and as a base for cornstarch. Various derivatives of corn become raw materials for various products of the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries. Corn was introduced to the archipelago by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. The height of the corn plant varies greatly, the average in cultivation reaches 2.0 to 2.5 m, although there are cultivars that can reach 12 m in height in certain body environments.
