American consumers enjoy the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world. The average U.S. consumer spends 9.9 percent of household income on food. Consider these rough percentage comparisons for other countries: Mexico (24.9), Japan (14.4), France (14.9), Thailand (29.2) and Indonesia (55.1). The result: Americans have more dollars available to purchase other goods and invest in research and development—and themselves.

A reliable food supply becomes even more important as the population grows at home and abroad. Remember, biorefineries don’t just produce fuel. They produce ingredients used in food for people around the world.

Biorefineries also produce a high-value feed called distillers grains that is being used with great success as a supplement or replacement for traditional corn in livestock rations. In effect, we are improving the efficiency of corn usage by creating food and fuel—instead of simply livestock feed.

Corn producers are working hard to ensure that livestock production continues to thrive in the United States. The interdependent corn-ethanol-livestock triangle requires that all three partners be strong for optimum success. Corn producers are helping fund research on the use of distillers grains for pork and poultry production—and improving the quality, delivery and efficiency of distillers grains in beef and dairy cattle production.

Other research is focused on mapping the corn genome, eventually leading to corn with traits specifically for use in medicines, nutraceuticals, industrial applications and foods—improving the lives of people around the world, while adding value to America’s corn crop.