Rice is a globally consumed cereal grain and a staple food for billions of people. Derived from the plant species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice), it is one of the most versatile and essential crops cultivated worldwide. Rice grains are small, oval, and come in various types and sizes, such as long-grain, medium-grain, and short-grain, each suited to different culinary uses.