Which crops diffusion from the Americas became staple foods and influenced land use in Europe and Asia?

• A. Potato and maize
• B. Rice and millet
• C. Wheat and barley
• D. Sugarcane and coffee

Answer: (A)

New World crops diffused into Europe and Asia and became essential staples, reshaping diets and farming. Potatoes and maize, introduced after contact with the Americas, proved highly productive and adaptable. Potatoes yield a lot of calories per acre and tolerate poorer soils, allowing farmers to feed more people and open land for other uses. Maize fits a wide range of climates and can be grown where other cereals struggle, altering cropping patterns and land use across different regions. Collectively, these crops supported population growth and changes in agricultural practices from Europe to Asia, which is why they’re the best fit.

Rice and millet, wheat and barley, and sugarcane and coffee are not correct in this context because they are not the crops that spread from the Americas to become foundational staples in Europe and Asia.