Cereals are seeds/grains of grasses and are cultivated in order to obtain the largest bounty of their fruit (seed) which consists of germ, endosperm and bran, and is also referred to as the caryopsis. Important cereals are wheat, rice, maize, oat, barley, rye, millet and sorghum. All cereals belong to the Gramineae family – other important crops included in this family are bamboo and sugar cane. Cereals are cultivated in huge amounts, and are used as a staple food in most of the developing countries as they provide more energy.

There is a long list of benefits for cereals grain, and they are an important part of our daily diet. Cereals can grow in adverse environmental and bad soil conditions, and the yield of cereal grains is not compromised due to harsh environmental conditions. They give the highest yield when compared to most other crops. After harvesting, the storage conditions can influence the nutritional value of cereals, but as cereals are a stable food with a low moisture content, they can be stored for a long period of time without effecting the nutritional value.