What is Maize?

Maize (or corn as it is more commonly known) is a cereal crop that has been cultivated worldwide for thousands of years. It is the World’s most widely used staple food and the third largest planted crop after wheat and rice. According to the World Bank, the demand for maize is set to increase over 40% in the next 10 years, opening up a fantastic opportunity for investment in this rewarding sector.

The market

The International maize market has undergone key changes over the past two decades in terms of production, utilisation and trade. In 2010, animal feed accounted for 58.63% of global maize consumption, with 41.37% categorised as food, industrial use and bioethanol. These changes were driven by a host of factors ranging from rapid advancements in seed and production technologies, changes in national policies and international trade across the globe. Whilst Maize can be a source of bioethanol, our principal market will be for food production. With the world population surpassing 7 billion in October, we believe the food market is proving lucrative for investment. A surge of demand from emerging economies like India and China has now led the Food & Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations to forecast the price of maize to increase by 90% by 2030.

Location

Investors can gain exposure to the Maize through the Greenleaf Global Maize Plantation in Ghana, West Africa. Located in the Southern Volta region, we have acquired 10,000 hectares for maize production. Ghana is recognised as one of the most reliable agricultural areas worldwide with Maize, Cocoa and other Cereal crops accounting for one third of the country’s GDP. Maize was introduced into Africa in the 1500s and has since become one of Africa's dominant food crops. The internal market of Ghana is currently importing 14% of their annual consumption.