What is the term for the deliberate breeding of plants or animals for human benefit?

The term that describes the deliberate breeding of plants or animals for human benefit is domestication. This process involves selecting specific traits that are advantageous for human use, such as higher yields in crops or specific characteristics in livestock. Domestication also reflects the long-term relationship that developed between humans and these species, leading to changes in their behavior, morphology, and reproduction over generations.

While hybridization refers specifically to the crossing of different species or varieties to produce offspring with desired traits, biotechnology encompasses a broader range of techniques, including genetic engineering, that do not necessarily involve breeding in the traditional sense. Agriculture encompasses the wide array of practices involved in cultivating plants and raising animals, including techniques of domestication, but is not limited to the breeding aspect itself. Therefore, domestication is the most precise term in this context.