Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Middle East and the Ethiopian Highlands, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2010 world production of wheat was 651 million tons, making it the third production of grain, after corn (844 million tons) and rice (672 million tons). Wheat was the second most produced from grain in 2009, world wheat production this year was 682 million tons, after corn (817 million tons) and rice (679 million tons).

Wheat is grown on more land area than any other commercial food . World wheat trade is greater than for all other crops combined . Worldwide , wheat is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food , having a higher protein content than other major cereals , corn or rice . From the standpoint of the total tonnage of products used for food production , now has a second wheat after rice as the main crop for human consumption , and second after corn for the manufacture of animal feed . Wheat flour is used to make the brew , bread, cookies, cakes , cereals, pasta, noodles , couscous and for fermentation to make beer, other alcoholic beverages , or biofuel.