The answer is
A. Corn.
In 2008, the world faced a food shortage crisis and especially of grains such as wheat. Making incorrect speculations and not reserving food should such a situation arise were considered as some of the factors.
The midwest region of America is the heartland of corn-crop. corn is cultivated on a very large scale. The reason for this high demand and cultivation of corn was because of the demand for ethanol. The corn was not grown for edible purposes but to be used to acquire ethanol.