# Explain why the selective breeding of crop plants can help farmers to increase food yields.

> Eduqas GCSE Biology — 6.4 Biological challenges of increasing food yields · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Selective breeding involves choosing plants with desirable characteristics to breed together
2. This is repeated over many generations
3. Desirable characteristics such as disease resistance, larger fruit/grain, or faster growth are passed on to offspring
4. Over time this produces crop plants that grow better / produce more food / are more resistant to disease or pests, increasing yield

## Key terms

- [selective breeding](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/selective-breeding)
- [yield](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/yield)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Biology](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-the-selective-breeding-of-32a97c1c) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.