Mar 20, 2012 9:00 am158 views
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - More than 7,000 years ago, indigenous peoples in Mexico domesticated corn. What was once a commodity for barter among indigenous tribes and empires is now one of the most important crops in the world. On March 27 (Tuesday), the Center for Advanced Study will host Corn and Indigenous Communities in the Americas, a daylong workshop examining the ancient relationship between indigenous cultures and maize, as well as the modern challenges of GMO cultivation, NAFTA and global price pressures now facing indigenous farming communities.