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Only certain areas of the world could support the Mediterranean climate that enabled the growth of diverse cereals and pulses. These cereal crops grow fast, are high in carbohydrates, and have a large yield. “As a result, cereals today account for over half of all calories consumed by humans and include five of the modern world’s 12 leading crops” (Diamond 125). Consequently, areas such as the Fertile Crescent, which was able to support the growth of cereals and pulses, thrived over those that could not. The majorities of these crops were self-pollinating, and required less work on the part of the farmers. Unlike strawberries and other crops, these cereals and pulses could be preserved and consumed at a later date. Additionally, these crops provided more nourishment and energy to food producers, which in turn, led to increased production and diffusion of the crop out of the region. Possessing these desirable crops enabled members of the Fertile Crescent to gain a head start over other peoples, and before other areas were able to develop food production independently, it was already reaching them by diffusion.
The diffusion of food production also depended on a favorable location.