Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa —or, much less commonly, O. glaberrima. Asian rice was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 years ago; African rice was domesticated in Africa about 3,000 years ago. Rice has become commonplace in many cultures worldwide; in 2021, 787 million tons were produced, placing it fourth after sugarcane, maize, and wheat. Only some 8% of rice is traded internationally. China, India, and Indonesia are the largest consumers of rice. A substantial amount of the rice produced in developing nations is lost after harvest through factors such as poor transport and storage. Rice yields can be reduced by pests including insects, rodents, and birds, as well as by weeds, and by diseases such as rice blast. Traditional rice polycultures such as rice-duck farming, and modern integrated pest management seek to control damage from pests in a sustainable way.

तांदूळ हे एक धान्य आहे. शेतातून मिळणाऱ्या तांदळावर एक पापुद्रा-साळ असते. साळीसकटच्या तांदळाला भात म्हणतात, त्यामुळे तांदळाच्या शेतीला भातशेती म्हणतात. खाण्यासाठी तांदूळ शिजवून मऊ करावा लागतो; अशा शिजलेल्या तांदळालाही भात म्हणतात.