diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c68602a951..35f2a5a968 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### changed
+- **14_yields_and_config** The new default is to not use yield calibration factors from a calibration run. The switch s14_use_yield_calib can optionally reenable the use of yield calibration factors.
 - **inputdata** There was another bug (terra default na.rm changed) in the inputdata that was fixed with rev4.93
 - **inputdata** There was a major bug (related to proj/terra) in the rev4.91 inputdata that was fixed with rev4.92
 - **scripts** LUH2_disaggregation output script was modified. Specifically, flooded area was made compatible with the LUH definition, cropland and grazing land were added to the states.nc file, and specific naming/details (datatype,  zname, xname, and yname) were added when creating the .nc files.
diff --git a/config/default.cfg b/config/default.cfg
index ecb455b574..f0cc0aa48a 100644
--- a/config/default.cfg
+++ b/config/default.cfg
@@ -56,11 +56,18 @@ cfg$force_download <- FALSE
 cfg$force_replace <- FALSE
 
 # Settings for the yield calibration
+# For this yield calibration (that uses results from a special MAgPIE calibration run 
+# triggered by the recalibrate switch) to be activated the switch s14_use_yield_calib needs 
+# to be turned on. (Default is off)
+# This switch should only be activated for penalty_apr22 crop realization.
+# For other realizations, it is recommended not to use this yield calibration.
+#
+# Switch to turn on/off recalibration of yields.
 # * (TRUE): Yield calibration will be performed
 # * (ifneeded): Yield calibration will only be executed if input data is
 # *             downloaded from repository
 # * (FALSE): Yield calibration will not be performed
-cfg$recalibrate <- "ifneeded"     # def = "ifneeded"
+cfg$recalibrate <- FALSE     # def = FALSE
 # Up to which accuracy shall be recalibrated?
 cfg$calib_accuracy <- 0.05         # def = 0.05
 # What is the maximum number of iterations if the precision goal is not reached?
@@ -316,6 +323,14 @@ cfg$gms$s14_calib_ir2rf <- 1       # def = 1
 # *          0 (land degradation is switched off)
 cfg$gms$s14_degradation <- 0      # def = 0
 
+# Switch to toggle the use of yield calibration factors (that resulted from a calibration run).
+# If 0, no yield calibration factors are used, meaning all calibration factors are set to 1.
+# If 1, yield calibration factors are used. (For this option to function, either an existing calibration file 
+# must be supplied in the input directory, or yields must be recalibrated during preprocessing.)
+# This switch should only be activated for penalty_apr22 crop realization.
+# For other realizations, it is recommended not to use this yield calibration.
+cfg$gms$s14_use_yield_calib <- 0    # def = 0
+
 # ***---------------------    15_food    ---------------------------------------
 # * (anthropometrics_jan18): estimates food using scenario dependent regression
 # *                          and demography drivers
diff --git a/config/scenario_fsec.csv b/config/scenario_fsec.csv
index 3728e722ad..4768afbbce 100644
--- a/config/scenario_fsec.csv
+++ b/config/scenario_fsec.csv
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ gms$c09_pal_scenario;;;;SSP1;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 gms$s12_interest_lic;;;0.06;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 gms$s12_interest_hic;;;0.04;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 gms$food;anthro_iso_jun22;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
+gms$s14_use_yield_calib;1;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 gms$s15_exo_waste;;;;;;;;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;1;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;0;1;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 gms$s15_exo_diet;;;;;;;;1;1;1;1;1;1;1;1;0;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;1;1;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 gms$c15_kcal_scen;;;;;;;;no_underweight;half_overweight;endo;endo;endo;endo;endo;endo;endo;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;no_underweight_half_overweight;no_underweight_half_overweight;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
diff --git a/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/input.gms b/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/input.gms
index 62e1a60cb6..ffab5eb9ee 100644
--- a/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/input.gms
+++ b/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/input.gms
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ scalar s14_calib_ir2rf   Switch to calibrate rainfed to irrigated yield ratios (
 
 scalar s14_degradation   Switch to include yield impacts of land degradation(0=no degradation 1=with degradation) / 0 /;
 
+scalar s14_use_yield_calib  Switch for using or not using yield calibration factors from the preprocessing (1=use facs 0=not use facs) / 0 /;
+
 scalars
   s14_yld_past_switch  Spillover parameter for translating technological change in the crop sector into pasture yield increases  (1)     / 0.25 /
   s14_yld_reduction_soil_loss  Decline of land productivity in areas with severe soil loss (1)     / 0.08 /
diff --git a/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/preloop.gms b/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/preloop.gms
index b7649dfa3c..9785cbea2a 100644
--- a/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/preloop.gms
+++ b/modules/14_yields/managementcalib_aug19/preloop.gms
@@ -144,13 +144,14 @@ if ((s14_calib_ir2rf = 1),
 ***YIELD CALIBRATION***********************************************************************
 
 *' @code
-*' Calibrated yields are additionally adjusted by calibration factors 'f14_yld_calib'
+*' Calibrated yields can additionally be adjusted by calibration factors 'f14_yld_calib'
 *' determined in a calibration run. As MAgPIE optimizes yield patterns and FAO regional
-*' yields are outlier corrected, historical production and croparea can only be reproduced
-*' with this additional step of correction:
+*' yields are outlier corrected, historical production and croparea can in some cases 
+*' be better represented with this additional correction:
 
-* set default values in case of missing input file
-if(sum((i,ltype14),f14_yld_calib(i,ltype14)) = 0,
+* set yield calib factors to 1 in case of no use of yield calibration factors (s14_use_yield_calib = 0) 
+* or missing input file 
+if(s14_use_yield_calib = 0 OR sum((i,ltype14),f14_yld_calib(i,ltype14)) = 0,
   f14_yld_calib(i,ltype14) = 1;
 );
 
diff --git a/scripts/start/extra/recalibrate_FSEC.R b/scripts/start/extra/recalibrate_FSEC.R
index 5833ccaf5b..22c894b2d1 100644
--- a/scripts/start/extra/recalibrate_FSEC.R
+++ b/scripts/start/extra/recalibrate_FSEC.R
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ source("scripts/projects/fsec.R")
 cfg       <- fsecScenario(scenario = "c_BAU")
 cfg$title <- "FSEC24Mar23"
 cfg$results_folder                  <- "output/:title:"
-cfg$recalibrate                     <- TRUE
+cfg$recalibrate                     <- TRUE # required when penality_apr22 activated
 cfg$best_calib                      <- TRUE
 cfg$recalibrate_landconversion_cost <- TRUE
 cfg$best_calib_landconversion_cost  <- FALSE