Wheat, rice and corn (maize) each have world production of 600–700 × 10
6
tons per year. They thus make very significant contributions to the diet of all humanity, as well as contributing to the feeding of animals and to industrial processing. In addition, there are several other cereal species that are grown to a significant extent, particularly barley, rye, oats, sorghum, triticale, and the various species of millet. Starch is the major component of the cereal grains, so it makes the greatest contribution to dietary energy input. The starch component is separated industrially from some cereal grains for further processing into sweetening agents, adhesives, thickening agents, fuel ethanol, and beverages. The gluten protein of wheat makes this cereal uniquely suitable for the production of leavened bread and for many other wheat‐based food products, such as noodles, cookies, cakes, and pasta. Given this range of uses, there are more rigid grain‐quality specifications for wheat than for other cereal species. These include grain color and hardness, protein content, milling quality and dough properties. Starch properties are important quality attributes for both rice and corn, as this component makes a contribution to the cooking and processing quality of both these grains. The cereal grains provide a good balance of nutrition, providing a diet that is low in fats, and offering several nutritional advantages, especially when whole‐grain foods are consumed.