**Abstract**

A good understanding of dynamics involved in food production is critical for the improvement of food security. It has been demonstrated that an increase in crop yields significantly reduces poverty. Yield, the mass of harvest crop product in a specific area, is influenced by several factors. These factors are grouped in three basic categories known as technological (agricultural practices, managerial decision, etc.), biological (diseases, insects, pests, weeds) and environmental (climatic condition, soil fertility, topography, water quality, etc.). These factors account for yield differences from one region to another worldwide. The current chapter will discuss each of these three basic factors as well as providing some recommendations for overcoming them. In addition, it will provide the importance of climate-smart agriculture in the increase of crop yields while facilitating the achievement of crop production in safe environment. This goes in line with the second goal of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of United Nations in transforming our world formulated as end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

**Keywords:** crop, yield, production, food, agriculture, environment

## **1. Introduction**

Agriculture is a key activity of human being since it provides basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. It has been demonstrated that every 1% increase in agricultural yield translates into a 0.6–1.2% decrease in the numbers of absolute poor households in the world [1]. Meanwhile, population growth was predicted to be 9.7 billion by 2050 and this will require an increase of about 70% in food production to meet the demand [2]. Rainfed agriculture is projected to produce one-third or more of the food increase in global food output for the coming decades. Unfortunately, agricultural productivity depends on increasingly extreme weather phenomena. Thus, water availability, air pollution, and temperature have a large impact in agriculture [3].

Several factors pose significant risk to farms leading to yield reduction when they are not correctly monitored and well managed. These factors can be grouped into three categories which are technological, biological and environmental [4]. The pressure to increase crop production in many countries, has resulted in the expansion of land area dedicated to agriculture and the intensification of cropland management through practices such as irrigation, use of large quantities of inputs like inorganic fertilizers and synthetic chemicals for pest and weed control [5]. These practices have resulted in degradation of soil properties and water quality, acceleration of soil erosion, contamination of groundwater and decline of food quality. This has prompted sustainable intensification initiatives to increase yields on existing farmland while decreasing the environmental impact of agriculture [6–10].

Organic crop production is one of the alternative agricultural practices promoted for the reduction of environmental pollution. As a result, several countries have introduced organic farming practices to replace the chemical-dependent ones [11]. To conserve and regenerate soil properties, the maintenance of soil organic matter (SOM) has received considerable attention. Although SOM is considered key to soil health, its relationship with yield is contested because of local-scale differences in soils, climate, and farming systems. The relationship between these factors should be quantified and proper soil management strategies set up to ensure sustainable crop production [5].

The impact of climate change in our agricultural systems is undoubtable. For example, drought followed by intense rain can increase the flooding potential, thereby creating conditions that favor fungal infestations of leaves, roots and tuber crops. In addition, reduction of bees' density due to global climate change has led to local extinction of several plant species [12]. The production of enough food to match population growth while preserving the environment is a key challenge, especially in the face of climate change. This chapter will review factors affecting yields of crops and provide some strategies to overcome yield loss while preserving the environment.
