By 2050, global agriculture must feed nearly 10 billion people under increasing constraints from climate change, land degradation, and resource scarcity. Conventional plant breeding, while historically successful, is no longer delivering yield gains at the pace required to meet future food demand. This article explores how modern plant breeding can rise to this challenge by integrating advances in genomics, pre-breeding, speed breeding, genome editing, phenomics, and artificial intelligence. Central to this transformation is the concept of genetic gain, achieved through improved selection accuracy, enhanced genetic diversity, intensified selection, and reduced breeding cycle time. Case studies in climate-resilient crops, biofortified varieties, and accelerated domestication illustrate the tangible impact of these innovations. The vision for breeding in 2050 emphasizes service-driven, data-enabled, and participatory breeding systems capable of delivering locally adapted, nutritionally rich, and climate-smart crops. Together, these strategies position plant breeding as a cornerstone of global food security in the coming decades.