The novelty of the W-E-F nexus approach, given that it requires new coordination mechanisms within and between institutions and disciplines, requires new forms and types of capacities in order to be effective. This paper identifies some of the existing capacity gaps and measures to address those gaps, in order to ensure a successful implementation of the W-E-F nexus approach. Capacity development for the nexus requires a variety of mechanisms from the individual to institutional levels. To successfully put the W-E-F nexus into practice we should build on the strengths of existing mechanisms, while also improving coordination and integration of seemingly divergent approaches in the water, energy, and food sectors. Capacity development within and between sectors will be key to a successful implementation of the W-E-F nexus approach.

Renewable energy technologies can address trade-offs between water, energy and food, bringing substantial benefits in all three key sectors. This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) looks at how adopting renewables can ease trade-offs by providing less resource-intensive energy services compared to conventional energy technologies. An energy system with substantial shares of renewable energy would be less water-intensive than one dependent on fossil fuels. Renewable energy technologies can boost water security by improving accessibility, affordability and safety. Integrating renewable energy in the agrifood supply chain helps to rein in cost volatility, bolster energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to long-term food sustainability. Modern bioenergy – sustainably and efficiently managed – could play an important role in these ongoing transformations.

La Agencia de Naciones Unidas del Agua celebró en 2012 el día del «Agua y la Seguridad Alimentaria», destacando que las personas beben de 2 a 4 litros de agua/día; sin embargo, la mayor parte del agua se encuentra en los alimentos consumidos. El objetivo del estudio es comparar el abastecimiento, frecuencia y tratamiento del agua con los niveles de inseguridad alimentaria y hambre (IAH) en hogares. Es una investigación descriptiva y trasversal, realizada en 1.251 hogares localizados en zonas suburbanas de Caracas, Venezuela. Por medio de encuestas se obtuvo información sobre el abastecimiento, frecuencia y tratamiento del agua, además del nivel de seguridad alimentaria, clasificada según la presencia o no de inseguridad, manejo de recursos y hogares con experiencias de hambre. Se utilizó el paquete SPSS v19 para el tratamiento estadístico descriptivo y bivariado. En total 58,11% de hogares presentó algún nivel de inseguridad alimentaria y hasta 61,5% problemas en la periodicidad del acceso al agua. Los hogares con IAH moderada-severa presentaron un abastecimiento y periodicidad inadecuada de 72 y 77% respectivamente (p < 0,001). A medida que aumenta la inseguridad alimentaria, el abastecimiento, la periodicidad y el tratamiento de agua resultó más inadecuada (p < 0,001). La IAH vincula el acceso, uso y calidad del agua por su estrecha relación en la producción, preparación y consumo de alimentos. Políticas de protección en el uso del agua deben complementar aquellas que alivian la IAH. El reto es producir más alimentos, de mejor calidad y con menos agua. | The Agency Water held in 2012 on «Water and Food Security,» noting that people drink 2 to 4 liters of water/day; however, most of our drinking water is incorporated into the food eaten. The aim of the study is to compare the access, frequency and treatment of water with food insecurity and hunger (FIH) in households. The research is descriptive and cross-sectional, taken in 1,251 households located in sub-urban neighborhoods in Caracas (Venezuela), where there was access, frequency and quality of water treatment in 1,251 households classified by FIH. Through face-to-face interviews we gathered data related with access, frequency and quality treatment of water and food security and hunger, which was classified according to the level of insecurity, management of resources and presence of hunger. SPSS v19 was used for the descriptive and bi-variable statistical analysis. Main results reveal that 58.11% of the households were food insecure and 61.5% had problems with the frequency of water. Households with moderate-severe insecurity face an inadequate access and frequency in 72 and 77% respectively (p < 0.001). When the FIH increases, the access, frequency and quality treatment is less adequate (p < 0.001). The FIH links access, use and water quality, through close association in the production, preparation and consumption of food. Protection policies on water use should complement those that relieve IAH. The challenge is to produce more food, better and with less water. | L’Agence de l’Eau des Nations Unies a célébré en 2012 le jour de «L’Eau et la Sécurité Alimentaire», soulignant que les personnes boivent entre 2 et 4 litres d’eau par jour ; cependant, la majeure partie de l’eau consommée vient des aliments que l’on mange. L’objectif de cette étude descriptive est de comparer l’approvisionnement, la fréquence et le traitement de l’eau avec les niveaux d’insécurité alimentaire et de faim des foyères (avec l’IAH), sur un échantillon de 1.251 foyers de Caracas, au Venezuela. On utilise le logiciel SPSS v19 pour l’analyse statistique et descriptive des variables. On a trouvé que 58,11% de ménages avait un certain niveau d’insécurité alimentaire et jusqu’`a 61,5% avait des problèmes d’accès irrégulier à l’eau potable. Les ménages avec un IAH modéré- sévère ont un approvisionnement et une fréquence faible de 72 et 77% respectivement (p < 0,001). Au fur et à mesure que l’insécurité alimentaire augmentent, l’approvisionnement, la fréquence et le traitement de l’eau sont de moins en moins suffisants (p < 0,001). L’IAH est un indicateur qui met en rapport l’accès, l’utilisation et la qualité de l’eau, avec la production, préparation et consommation des aliments. Ainsi les politiques visant la protection des eaux doivent complémenter celles qui tendent à soulager l’IAH. Le défi en fin de compte, c’est de produire plus d’aliments, de meilleur qualité mais en utilisant moins d’eau. | A Agência de Água das Nações Unidas realizada em 2012 sobre «Água e Segurança Alimentar». O objetivo é chamar a atenção para uma em cada seis pessoas no mundo que não têm acesso a fontes adequadas da água. O propósito do estudo é comparar o acesso, freqüência e qualidade dos níveis de tratamento de água de insegurança alimentar e fome (IAH) em domicílios. É uma pesquisa descritiva e transversal, realizado em 1251 domicílios em áreas suburbanas de Caracas (Venezuela). Através de pesquisas sobre o acesso, a freqüência, o tratamento de água de qualidade e do nível de segurança alimentar, classificados de acordo com a presença ou ausência de insegurança, gestão de recursos e as famílias sentir fome foi obtida. SPSS v19 foi utilizado para análise estatística descritiva e bivariada. No total, 58% dos domicílios tinham algum nível de problemas de insegurança alimentar e até 61% na freqüência de acesso à água. Domicílios com moderada a grave IAH tiveram acesso inadequado e freqüência de 72% e 77%, respectivamente (p < 0,001), enquanto que aqueles com experiência de fome em adultos e 75% das crianças tiveram freqüência inadequada de acesso à água. À medida que aumenta o IAH, o acesso, freqüência e qualidade de tratamento de água foi mais inadequada (p < 0,001). O IAH está ligada ao acesso, uso e qualidade da água, a sua estreita relação com a produção, preparação e consumo de alimentos. Políticas de proteção são necessários no uso da água como uma das políticas transversais que aliviam IAH. O desafio é produzir mais alimentos, melhor e com menos água.

In this study, 13 types of organic materials were oxidized using H₂O₂in a continuous flow reactor under the condition of supercritical water. The effect of the operational parameters on the conversion of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) was investigated, and the resulting quality of treated water was analyzed. It was found that these materials were easily oxidized with a TOC conversion achieving 99 % at temperature of 460 °C and TN conversion reaching 94 % at temperature of 500 °C. Rice decomposition was rapid, with TOC and TN decomposition rates of 99 % obtained within residence of 100 s at temperature of 460 °C. At temperature of 460 °C, pressure of 24 MPa, residence time of 100 s, and excess oxygen of 100 %, the quality of treated water attained levels commensurate with China’s Standards for Drinking Water Quality. Reaction rate equation parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data to the differential equation obtained using the Runge–Kutta algorithm. The decrease of the TOC in water samples exhibited reaction orders of 0.95 for the TOC concentration and 0.628 for the oxygen concentration. The activation energy was 83.018 kJ/mol.

The emerging foodborne and waterborne pathogen, Arcobacter, has been linked to various gastrointestinal diseases. Currently, 19 species are established or proposed; consequently, there has been an increase in the number of publications regarding Arcobacter since it was first introduced in 1991. To better understand the potential public health risks posed by Arcobacter, this review summarizes the current knowledge concerning the global distribution and the prevalence of Arcobacter in food and water. Arcobacter spp. were identified in food animals, food‐processing environments and a variety of foods, including vegetables, poultry, beef, dairy products, seafood, pork, lamb and rabbit. A wide range of waterbodies has been reported to be contaminated with Arcobacter spp., such as wastewater, seawater, lake and river water, drinking water, groundwater and recreational water. In addition, Arcobacter has also been isolated from pets, domestic birds, wildlife, zoo and farm animals. It is expected that advancements in molecular techniques will facilitate better detection worldwide and aid in understanding the pathogenicity of Arcobacter. However, more extensive and rigorous surveillance systems are needed to better understand the occurrence of Arcobacter in food and water in various regions of the world, as well as uncover other potential public health risks, that is antibiotic resistance and disinfection efficiency, to reduce the possibility of foodborne and waterborne infections.

Human appropriation of land and evapotranspiration for crop-livestock and dams to sustain people in cities are major drivers affecting the provision of global ecosystem services as climate, water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus regulations. Human carbon emissions from fossil burning and land use worsen both the depletion of planetary services and global warming. The recognition that problems arise essentially from fossil-driven land use enlighten realistic solutions. In particular, finite fossil resources must be redirected to forge new renewable-based economies. The objective of this article is to show that healthy feedback loops of renewable markets are economically viable and a sine qua non condition for improving the resilience of natural and anthropic ecosystems to cope with forthcoming challenges of climate change. Urban and rural areas of a Brazilian municipality, São Gabriel do Oeste, are used as an illustrative case study to reducing carbon and water footprints through fossil resources reallocation to technological and social innovations in distributed renewable energy (biogas-to-power), storm water recovery, wastewater treatment (biodigester), waste recover and recycling (organic fertilizers and soil conditioners), and recovery of basic ecosystem services.

Human appropriation of land and evapotranspiration for crop-livestock and dams to sustain people in cities are major drivers affecting the provision of global ecosystem services as climate, water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus regulations. Human carbon emissions from fossil burning and land use worsen both the depletion of planetary services and global warming. The recognition that problems arise essentially from fossil-driven land use enlighten realistic solutions. In particular, finite fossil resources must be redirected to forge new renewable-based economies. The objective of this article is to show that healthy feedback loops of renewable markets are economically viable and a sine qua non condition for improving the resilience of natural and anthropic ecosystems to cope with forthcoming challenges of climate change. Urban and rural areas of a Brazilian municipality, São Gabriel do Oeste, are used as an illustrative case study to reducing carbon and water footprints through fossil resources reallocation to technological and social innovations in distributed renewable energy (biogas-to-power), storm water recovery, wastewater treatment (biodigester), waste recover and recycling (organic fertilizers and soil conditioners), and recovery of basic ecosystem services.