Grains are the "staff of life", and this video is a quick tour through the world and history of grains. As people learned to cultivate grains, civilization and towns developed since planted crops replaced hunting and gathering food. Today grain farmers plant and harvest grains using huge machines, and grains are milled into many kinds of flour used for different kinds of baking and food production. Rice production and harvesting has also changed in some parts of the world and is different varieties are a staple in many cultures' cuisines. Corn was cultivated by many indigenous peoples, and today it is used not only in many food products but also in the production of ethanol, paints, textiles and plastics. Barley is a staple grain in the Middle East, but in western countries it is used mostly as animal feed and for brewing beer. Most oats are also used as animal food, but they're sold in a variety of forms for human consumption as well. Rye, buckwheat, millet, triticale, and spelt also have a place in many cuisines and nutritional plans. Wild rice is one of the few grains native to North America, amaranth was cultivated by the Aztecs and the Incas grew nutritional quinoa. The story of grain is the story of civilization.