Boosting crop yields can promote food security and alleviate poverty in developing nations, while limiting further agricultural expansion to natural ecosystems. Crop yield refers to the quantity of crops produced per unit of cultivated land. The trend of change in crop yields is variable across regions and nations. Globally, the average cereal yield has seen an impressive rise, surging from 5.2 tons per hectare in 1990 to 7.8 tons per hectare in 2021. During the early 2010s, the yields of the top four global crops, namely maize, rice, wheat, and soybean, responsible for supplying approximately 43% of the world’s dietary energy and 40% of daily protein intake, were increasing at linear rates of 1.6%, 1.0%, 0.9% and 1.3% per year, respectively. Substantial disparities exist in crop yields between developed and developing countries. In 2017, the average cereal yield in developed nations reached 5.8 tons per hectare, while in developing countries, it stood at 3.1 tons per hectare. This yield discrepancy can be attributed to various factors, including variations in technology, infrastructure, and resource accessibility. The influence of climate change and extreme weather events also exerts an impact on crop yields.  

Boosting crop yields can promote food security and alleviate poverty in developing nations, while limiting further agricultural expansion to natural ecosystems. Crop yield refers to the quantity of crops produced per unit of cultivated land. The trend of change in crop yields is variable across regions and nations. Globally, the average cereal yield has seen an impressive rise, surging from 5.2 tons per hectare in 1990 to 7.8 tons per hectare in 2021. During the early 2010s, the yields of the top four global crops, namely maize, rice, wheat, and soybean, responsible for supplying approximately 43% of the world’s dietary energy and 40% of daily protein intake, were increasing at linear rates of 1.6%, 1.0%, 0.9% and 1.3% per year, respectively. Substantial disparities exist in crop yields between developed and developing countries. In 2017, the average cereal yield in developed nations reached 5.8 tons per hectare, while in developing countries, it stood at 3.1 tons per hectare. This yield discrepancy can be attributed to various factors, including variations in technology, infrastructure, and resource accessibility. The influence of climate change and extreme weather events also exerts an impact on crop yields.