<P> Wild grains were collected and eaten from at least 20,000 BC . From around 9,500 BC , the eight Neolithic founder crops -- emmer wheat , einkorn wheat , hulled barley , peas , lentils , bitter vetch , chick peas , and flax -- were cultivated in the Levant . Rice was domesticated in China between 11,500 and 6,200 BC , followed by mung , soy and azuki beans . Pigs were domesticated in Mesopotamia around 11,000 BC , followed by sheep between 11,000 and 9,000 BC . Cattle were domesticated from the wild aurochs in the areas of modern Turkey and Pakistan around 8,500 BC . Sugarcane and some root vegetables were domesticated in New Guinea around 7,000 BC . Sorghum was domesticated in the Sahel region of Africa by 5,000 BC . In the Andes of South America , the potato was domesticated between 8,000 and 5,000 BC , along with beans , coca , llamas , alpacas , and guinea pigs . Bananas were cultivated and hybridized in the same period in Papua New Guinea . In Mesoamerica , wild teosinte was domesticated to maize by 4,000 BC . Cotton was domesticated in Peru by 3,600 BC . Camels were domesticated late , perhaps around 3,000 BC . </P>
<P> Wild grains were collected and eaten from at least 20,000 BC . From around 9,500 BC , the eight Neolithic founder crops -- emmer wheat , einkorn wheat , hulled barley , peas , lentils , bitter vetch , chick peas , and flax -- were cultivated in the Levant . Rice was domesticated in China between 11,500 and 6,200 BC , followed by mung , soy and azuki beans . Pigs were domesticated in Mesopotamia around 11,000 BC , followed by sheep between 11,000 and 9,000 BC . Cattle were domesticated from the wild aurochs in the areas of modern Turkey and Pakistan around 8,500 BC . Sugarcane and some root vegetables were domesticated in New Guinea around 7,000 BC . Sorghum was domesticated in the Sahel region of Africa by 5,000 BC . In the Andes of South America , the potato was domesticated between 8,000 and 5,000 BC , along with beans , coca , llamas , alpacas , and guinea pigs . Bananas were cultivated and hybridized in the same period in Papua New Guinea . In Mesoamerica , wild teosinte was domesticated to maize by 4,000 BC . Cotton was domesticated in Peru by 3,600 BC . Camels were domesticated late , perhaps around 3,000 BC . </P>
where do scholars believe food production first began in the middle east
where do scholars believe food production first began in the middle east
the Levant
the Levant