Food is one of the most important aspects of human survival. They give energy to the body and help people perform their daily activities. The food that is consumed by human beings is mostly in the form of vegetables and animals. It is surprising to know that there are only 12 major plants and 5 animals that are feeding the entire population of the world. As per reports, around 400 crore people in the world depend on these few plants and animals to satisfy their hunger, as 75 percent of the food comes from them. If these crops and animals do not exist, then it will be difficult for humans to survive.
As per the report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO database), there are more than 3 lakh species of plants present in the world. Among them, only 30 thousand species are considered appropriate to consume by humans. Out of these, 7 thousand species have been cultivated by humans at one time or another, either for consumption or agricultural purposes. The food cycle of humans runs around just 255 species. Among them, there are only 12 plants, which feed 61 percent of humans. These plants include wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, soya, potato, palm oil, cassava, sweet potato, peanuts, millets, and sorghum.
Wheat is the most grown crop in the world, as most people consume it in some form or another. In India, wheat holds a lot of importance as it is used in making breads and even biscuits. Apart from that, rice is also a highly consumed crop. Maize, potatoes, and sugar cane are also quite popular. Most of the products that humans consume are also made using these crops.
Talking about animals, there are just five major animals that are consumed by the majority of humans. These include chicken, cow, buffalo, pig, and goat. These 5 creatures feed around 14 percent of the world population, and people use their meat, milk, and poultry products for food. Many of these medicines are also made using these animals and crops.
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