Sugar cane was the most produced crop or livestock product worldwide in 2021, at 1.86 billion metric tons. This was followed by maize, of which 1.21 billion metric tons worth was produced. Sugar cane is grown for both sugar production and ethanol for biofuel production.
Grain production
Aside from sugar cane in first place, the next the top three most produced crops in the world are all classified as grains. Grains include cereals and legumes and are such a widespread crop because they can grow in almost any climate. Grains can also be used in a variety of ways; eaten whole, ground up for flour, or used for livestock feed. Due to all of these factors, it is no surprise that grains are a staple food in so many areas of the world.
Potatoes
Potatoes are also among the top produced crops worldwide. Unlike grains, potatoes are more likely to grow in an environment with a lot of sun and little chance of frost. Even so, over 376 million metric tons of potatoes were produced in 2021. That year, China was the leading potato producer worldwide, accounting for about a quarter of total production, followed by India and Ukraine.
