This paper focuses on a collection of methods that can be used to analyze the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. We classify these methods as qualitative or quantitative for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches. The methods for interdisciplinary research approaches can be used to unify a collection of related variables, visualize the research problem, evaluate the issue, and simulate the system of interest. Qualitative methods are generally used to describe the nexus in the region of interest, and include primary research methods such as Questionnaire Surveys, as well as secondary research methods such as Ontology Engineering and Integrated Maps. Quantitative methods for examining the nexus include Physical Models, Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA), Integrated Indices, and Optimization Management Models. The authors discuss each of these methods in the following sections, along with accompanying case studies from research sites in Japan and the Philippines. Although the case studies are specific to two regions, these methods could be applicable to other areas, with appropriate calibration.

The purpose of the study is to assess whether Corporate Social Responsibility regarding water is considered relevant for sustainability in companies related to agriculture in South Africa, considering that their impact directly influences public access to water. To accomplish this purpose, a qualitative approach was developed through the study of the 22 existing companies from the agriculture sector, food and beverages, forest and paper production, and Tobacco, which published their last integrated report within the Global Reporting Initiative framework. A thematic content analysis was carried out, involving the analysis of the written sustainability reports. For data analyses, ATLAS.ti 7.1 software was used to match the main aspects related to water management. Pragmatic advice for practitioners derives from the research results, considering that Corporate Social Responsibility in general—and sustainable water management in particular—represents an opportunity for companies to get competitive advantages in the market. The study also determines the best practices in the field in South Africa with benchmarking purposes.

A city is the place where food, energy, and water consumption happen. This consumption leads to challenges and has a strong impact on natural sources. Although researchers broadly agree on the importance of incorporating the concept of the food, energy, and water nexus into policy strategies and decision-making, the assessment system for how governance methods can improve the provision of these three essential services is relatively blank. To clarify the policy mechanisms and heterogeneity of sustainability issues related to the food, energy and water nexus at the city level, this study develops an indicator system to guide the implementations and optimize urban sustainability. A qualitative approach is employed to form the priority strategies in in four selected cities: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Taipei, and Tainan. The results show that renewable energy plays an essential role in the food-energy-water nexus. In addition, we also observed that future work should focus on technological innovation. These observations imply that the unique combination of influence factors in food-energy-water sustainability offers a comprehensive outlook of the broad and complex challenges that a city faces due to resource limitations, which can help inform future governance practices. Finally, some policy recommendations are made for highlighting and the activities needed to work. The results of the present evaluation could be used as a tool to strengthen food-energy-water management in the future. They can guide managers to develop possible solutions that ensure resources are applied successfully according to the visions of multiple perspectives and help the relevant ministries to improve future consultation plans.

Water, Energy and Food (WEF) are key elements of economic and social sustainable development, and present a complex nexus. Existed WEF nexus research is mainly confined to qualitative analyses, and it needs constant improvement and increases quantitative analyses. In China, water security is the most prominent problem in the WEF-nexus, which is manifested in the competitive relationship between food and energy production for water. Therefore, the matter of alleviating water resources stress has become a difficult and hot issue. After improving the existed water footprint accounting method for food and energy production, this study calculated the food water footprints (blue water footprint and green water footprint) in the 31 provinces of mainland China in 2015, as well as the blue water footprints of major energy systems (coal, oil, natural gas and thermal power generation). This study proposed water resources pressure index (IWS), water resources pressure contribution rate of food and energy (WCR), water consumption rate of food and energy (n) and competition composite index (CCI) of WEF, which were used to evaluate the consumption of water resources in food and energy production in different regions, and assess the intensity of competition for water resources in food and energy production. The results showed that the national food water footprint in 2015 was 690.8 Gm³, and the blue food water footprint was 287.8 Gm³. The main water-consuming blue energy water footprint was 18.5 Gm³, and coal production accounted for 9.9% and thermal power generation accounted for 87.6%. According to the competition indicators, the competition relationship among the administrative regions of the 31 provinces in mainland China was obtained. For example, 5 provinces had serious competition and 19 provinces had weak competition. The water consumption of the energy industry continues to grow rapidly by economic development. Corresponding measures should be taken according to the different competition levels for water resources.

A rapid planar chromatographic method for identification and quantification of 25 water-soluble dyes in food was developed. In a horizontal developing chamber, the chromatographic separation on silica gel 60F(254) high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates took 12 min for 40 runs in parallel, using 8 mL ethyl acetate-methanol-water-acetic acid (65 + 23 + 11 + 1, v/v/v/v) mobile phase up to a migration distance of 50 mm. However, the total analysis time, inclusive of application and evaluation, took 60 min for 40 runs. Thus, the overall time/run can be calculated as 1.5 min with a solvent consumption of 200 μL. A sample throughput of 1000 runs/8 h day can be reached by switching between the working stations (application, development, and evaluation) in a 20 min interval, which triples the analysis throughput. Densitometry was performed by absorption measurement using the multiwavelength scan mode in the UV and visible ranges. Repeatabilities [relative standard deviation (RSD), 4 determinations] at the first or second calibration level showed precisions of mostly <or=2.7%, ranging between 0.2 and 5.2%. Correlation coefficient values (R >= 0.9987) and RSD values (<or=4.2%) of the calibration curves were highly satisfactory using classical quantification. However, digital evaluation of the plate image was also used for quantification, which resulted in RSD values of the calibration curves of mostly <or=3.0%, except for two <or=6.0%. The method was applied for the analysis of some energy drinks and bakery ink formulations, directly applied after dilution. By recording of absorbance spectra in the visible range, the identities of the dyes found in the samples were ascertained by comparison with the respective standard bands (correlation coefficients >or= 0.9996). If necessary for confirmation, online mass spectra were recorded within a minute.

As the basis of quantitative research over water-energy-food nexus (WEFN), qualitative analysis is indispensable for depicting the systems and providing effective measures and policies. Preceding qualitative WEFN studies largely neglected the role of local stakeholder participation, which could only reflect fragments of the systems. Causal loop diagrams (CLDs) have been proven to be effective for supporting stakeholder participation in many other areas. Nevertheless, there was a lack of impartial methods that could make CLD analysis tractable without significantly impairing the WEFN systems integrity. To fill such gaps, a novel method based on merging and reduction rules was proposed to reasonably merge and downscale WEFN CLDs built by stakeholders. Based on this improved method, a CLD-based methodology was developed as a prototype for characterizing WEFN systems, prescribing the WEFN problem, exploring its causes and consequences, and identifying effective measures and policies for alleviating conflicts. To validate the applicability of the developed methodology, it was applied to a real case. The results indicated that total water consumption, water allocation among varied sectors, available surface water, and available groundwater, as well as indirect factors such as volume of diverted water and agricultural water consumption, were the keys to alleviate water scarcity problem under WEFN in the study area. Measures and polices focusing on the interactions between surface water and groundwater could be viable for alleviating the problem. Directions to enhance tradeoffs and synergies within WEFN systems were also obtained.

Due to global transformational trends, such as population growth, economic development and climate change, energy, water, land and human resources are increasingly under pressure to support societal development and to maintain necessary services. Decisionmakers need improved tools in order to be better informed about trade-offs and synergies between different development and management choices, and to help them identify options on how to sustainably manage resources.This report proposes a way to carry out a water-energy-food nexus assessment approach in order to: a) understand the interactions between water, energy and food systems in a given context, and b) evaluate the performance of a technicalor policy intervention in this given context.The ultimate goal of the nexus assessment is to inform nexusrelated responses in terms of strategies, policy measures, planning and institutional set-up or interventions.