Rice breeding is the scientific process of developing new varieties of rice that have improved traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, and better nutritional quality. This involves selecting parent plants with desirable characteristics and cross-pollinating them to produce offspring with a combination of these traits. Breeders often use techniques like marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering to enhance the efficiency of the breeding process. By focusing on specific genes associated with beneficial traits, they can create rice varieties that are more resilient to environmental challenges, such as drought or flooding, ultimately helping to ensure food security.