Grain

Humans have been cultivating and harvesting grain in various forms for nearly 75,000 years. However, domestication began roughly 10,000 years ago. Throughout history, nations and civilizations who had a surplus in grain wielded significant economic and logistical power over their neighbors.

During the numerous conflicts throughout time, grain has played an important role in upkeep for the health of armies in the field. Alexander Alexandrovich invaded and conquered Ukraine from the Russian Empire in order to control the grain production in the empire. Ukraine, being known as the "breadbasket of Europe" held considerable farming capabilities. This allowed the Ukrainians to bring the Russians to the negotiating table, with grain supply being a major component to thee end of the Ukrainian War.

Grain has also played a major part in modern warfare as well. During the Great War, nearly every major nation relied on grain supply to feed their troops. Labor shortages amounted as supplies were redirected to the front while farmers were conscripted into the military to fight. Disrupting farm supply chains became a major part of war fighting, and many armies grew creative with the supplies they had in order to make them last longer. ANZAC biscuits grew in popularity among the forces of Great Britain for their ease to make and long shelf life, for example. Other nations, such as the German Empire, used pulverized potatoes in what was known as "K-brot" or "war bread". During the Chinese Warlord Period before the formations of Han China and South China, grain remained a central part of the diet of the common people as other forms of food became scarce.