Corn cobs are the flowering organs of Zea mays that bear the kernels, consisting of glumes folded around the grain, a woody lignified ring, and an inner pith. Beyond their agricultural role, cobs are a significant industrial resource: they are a commercial source of furfural, a versatile platform chemical used in resins and solvents, and waste cobs serve as lignocellulosic fermentation substrates for producing industrial enzymes, fuel ethanol, and sugars. Valorising this abundant harvest residue supports biorefinery concepts that convert what was once field waste into food ingredients, animal feed, and biofuels, improving the overall sustainability and economics of corn production.