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Possible impacts of rising CO2 on crop water use efficiency and food security Full text
2018
A Scavo | M Sidhom | F Rangel | A Miaule | C Emuka | N Poomchongko | S Ali | W Rappel | J Schroeder
Understanding the mechanisms involved in plants' response to rising CO2 levels may lead to the development of crop plant varieties better adapted to future drought conditions.
Show more [+] Less [-]Prospects for Improving Irrigated Agriculture in Southern Africa: Linking Water, Energy and Food Full text
2018
Mabhaudhi, T. | Mpandeli, Sylvester | Nhamo, Luxon | Chimonyo, Vimbayi G. P. | Nhemachena, Charles | Senzanje, Aidan | Naidoo, Dhesigen | Modi, Albert T
Prospects for Improving Irrigated Agriculture in Southern Africa: Linking Water, Energy and Food Full text
2018
Mabhaudhi, T. | Mpandeli, Sylvester | Nhamo, Luxon | Chimonyo, Vimbayi G. P. | Nhemachena, Charles | Senzanje, Aidan | Naidoo, Dhesigen | Modi, Albert T
Increasing agricultural productivity has always been a prominent feature on the regional agenda due to a high incidence of food and nutrition insecurity. This review assessed the current status of irrigated agriculture in southern Africa from a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus perspective. Gaps and opportunities for improving irrigated agriculture within the context of the WEF nexus were also assessed in terms of the feasible limits to which they can be exploited. Southern Africa faces water scarcity, and climate projections show that member states will face increased physical and/or economic water scarcity by as early as 2025, which will have negative impacts on water, energy and food production. Recurrent droughts experienced across the region reaffirm the sensitive issues of food and energy insecurity as well as water scarcity. Projections of an increasing population within the region indicate increased water, energy and food demand. With agriculture already accounting for about 70% of water withdrawals, increasing the area under irrigation will place additional demand on already strained energy grids and scarce water resources. This poses the question—is increasing irrigated agriculture a solution to improving water access, food security and energy supply? While there are prospects for increasing the area under irrigation and subsequent improvement in agricultural productivity, adopting a WEF nexus approach in doing so would mitigate trade-offs and unintended consequences. Consideration of the WEF nexus in integrated resources planning and management eliminates the possibilities of transferring problems from one sector to other, as it manages synergies and trade-offs. While it is acknowledged that improving water productivity in irrigated agriculture could reduce water and energy use while increasing yield output, there is a need to decide how such savings would then be reallocated. Any intervention to increase the irrigated area should be done in the context of a WEF nexus analytical framework to guide policy and decision-making. Technical planning should evolve around the WEF nexus approach in setting targets, as WEF nexus indicators would reveal the performance and impact of proposed interventions on any of the three WEF nexus components.
Show more [+] Less [-]Prospects for improving irrigated agriculture in Southern Africa: linking water, energy and food Full text
2018
Mabhaudhi, T. | Mpandeli, S. | Nhamo, Luxon | Chimonyo, V.G.P. | Nhemachena, Charles | Senzanje, Aidan | Naidoo, D. | Modi, A.T.
Increasing agricultural productivity has always been a prominent feature on the regional agenda due to a high incidence of food and nutrition insecurity. This review assessed the current status of irrigated agriculture in southern Africa from a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus perspective. Gaps and opportunities for improving irrigated agriculture within the context of the WEF nexus were also assessed in terms of the feasible limits to which they can be exploited. Southern Africa faces water scarcity, and climate projections show that member states will face increased physical and/or economic water scarcity by as early as 2025, which will have negative impacts on water, energy and food production. Recurrent droughts experienced across the region reaffirm the sensitive issues of food and energy insecurity as well as water scarcity. Projections of an increasing population within the region indicate increased water, energy and food demand. With agriculture already accounting for about 70% of water withdrawals, increasing the area under irrigation will place additional demand on already strained energy grids and scarce water resources. This poses the question—is increasing irrigated agriculture a solution to improving water access, food security and energy supply? While there are prospects for increasing the area under irrigation and subsequent improvement in agricultural productivity, adopting a WEF nexus approach in doing so would mitigate trade-offs and unintended consequences. Consideration of the WEF nexus in integrated resources planning and management eliminates the possibilities of transferring problems from one sector to other, as it manages synergies and trade-offs. While it is acknowledged that improving water productivity in irrigated agriculture could reduce water and energy use while increasing yield output, there is a need to decide how such savings would then be reallocated. Any intervention to increase the irrigated area should be done in the context of a WEF nexus analytical framework to guide policy and decision-making. Technical planning should evolve around the WEF nexus approach in setting targets, as WEF nexus indicators would reveal the performance and impact of proposed interventions on any of the three WEF nexus components.
Show more [+] Less [-]Prospects for Improving Irrigated Agriculture in Southern Africa: Linking Water, Energy and Food Full text
2018
Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi | Sylvester Mpandeli | Luxon Nhamo | Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo | Charles Nhemachena | Aidan Senzanje | Dhesigen Naidoo | Albert T Modi
Increasing agricultural productivity has always been a prominent feature on the regional agenda due to a high incidence of food and nutrition insecurity. This review assessed the current status of irrigated agriculture in southern Africa from a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus perspective. Gaps and opportunities for improving irrigated agriculture within the context of the WEF nexus were also assessed in terms of the feasible limits to which they can be exploited. Southern Africa faces water scarcity, and climate projections show that member states will face increased physical and/or economic water scarcity by as early as 2025, which will have negative impacts on water, energy and food production. Recurrent droughts experienced across the region reaffirm the sensitive issues of food and energy insecurity as well as water scarcity. Projections of an increasing population within the region indicate increased water, energy and food demand. With agriculture already accounting for about 70% of water withdrawals, increasing the area under irrigation will place additional demand on already strained energy grids and scarce water resources. This poses the question—is increasing irrigated agriculture a solution to improving water access, food security and energy supply? While there are prospects for increasing the area under irrigation and subsequent improvement in agricultural productivity, adopting a WEF nexus approach in doing so would mitigate trade-offs and unintended consequences. Consideration of the WEF nexus in integrated resources planning and management eliminates the possibilities of transferring problems from one sector to other, as it manages synergies and trade-offs. While it is acknowledged that improving water productivity in irrigated agriculture could reduce water and energy use while increasing yield output, there is a need to decide how such savings would then be reallocated. Any intervention to increase the irrigated area should be done in the context of a WEF nexus analytical framework to guide policy and decision-making. Technical planning should evolve around the WEF nexus approach in setting targets, as WEF nexus indicators would reveal the performance and impact of proposed interventions on any of the three WEF nexus components.
Show more [+] Less [-]Prospects for improving irrigated agriculture in Southern Africa: linking water, energy and food Full text
2018
Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe | Mpandeli, S. | Nhamo, Luxon | Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova | Nhemachena, Charles | Senzanje, Aidan | Naidoo, D. | Modi, Albert Thembinkosi
Increasing agricultural productivity has always been a prominent feature on the regional agenda due to a high incidence of food and nutrition insecurity. This review assessed the current status of irrigated agriculture in southern Africa from a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus perspective. Gaps and opportunities for improving irrigated agriculture within the context of the WEF nexus were also assessed in terms of the feasible limits to which they can be exploited. Southern Africa faces water scarcity, and climate projections show that member states will face increased physical and/or economic water scarcity by as early as 2025, which will have negative impacts on water, energy and food production. Recurrent droughts experienced across the region reaffirm the sensitive issues of food and energy insecurity as well as water scarcity. Projections of an increasing population within the region indicate increased water, energy and food demand. With agriculture already accounting for about 70% of water withdrawals, increasing the area under irrigation will place additional demand on already strained energy grids and scarce water resources. This poses the question—is increasing irrigated agriculture a solution to improving water access, food security and energy supply? While there are prospects for increasing the area under irrigation and subsequent improvement in agricultural productivity, adopting a WEF nexus approach in doing so would mitigate trade-offs and unintended consequences. Consideration of the WEF nexus in integrated resources planning and management eliminates the possibilities of transferring problems from one sector to other, as it manages synergies and trade-offs. While it is acknowledged that improving water productivity in irrigated agriculture could reduce water and energy use while increasing yield output, there is a need to decide how such savings would then be reallocated. Any intervention to increase the irrigated area should be done in the context of a WEF nexus analytical framework to guide policy and decision-making. Technical planning should evolve around the WEF nexus approach in setting targets, as WEF nexus indicators would reveal the performance and impact of proposed interventions on any of the three WEF nexus components.
Show more [+] Less [-]Study on Vulnerability and Coordination of Water-Energy-Food System in Northwest China Full text
2018
Chen, Junfei | Yu, Xiaoya | Qiu, Lei | Deng, Menghua | Dong, Ran
Water, energy and food are the basic resources for human survival and development. The coordination development of water-energy-food (W-E-F) is of great significance to promote regional sustainable development. In this study, Northwest China (Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang) was selected as the research case, and an evaluation index system was constructed to assess the vulnerability and coordination of water-energy-food (W-E-F) system based on PSR model. Then, a coupled model based on cloud-matter element model and coordination degree model was proposed. The cloud-matter element model was adopted to evaluate the vulnerability level of W-E-F system. The coordination degree model was employed to calculate the coordination degrees of W-E-F system. The results showed that, from 2006 to 2015, the vulnerability levels of W-E-F system in Northwest China were mostly at Level 1. The coordination degrees of W-E-F system belonged to the transitional development level (II) in most years. The vulnerability and coordination problems of W-E-F system in Northwest China were severe. The comprehensive vulnerability index values of W-E-F system were generally on the rise, but far from reaching a good level. Moreover, the comprehensive vulnerability index values and coordination degrees of W-E-F system in Northwest China do not match well. Finally, the countermeasures and suggestions to improve the coordinated development of water resource, energy and food in Northwest China were put forward.
Show more [+] Less [-]Determining strategies for water, energy, and food-related sectors in local economic development Full text
2018
Purwanto, Aries | Sušnik, Janez | Suryadi, F.X. | Du Fraiture, Charlotte
Water, energy, and food (WEF) related sectors are important to support people’s life in a region. Resource evaluation is one of the stages in resource management to ensure that the existence of those sectors is provided sustainably. The assessment of the agglomeration level and growth of each sector in economic development can give better insights for local stakeholders either government bodies or private firms to improve sustainable management of these sectors. The objectives of this paper are to portray the agglomeration level and recent growth of WEF related sectors in local regions in Indonesia, and to determine possible sustainable development strategies. The location quotient (LQ) and competitive position (CP) analysis methods are employed in this regard. By analysing Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) between 2000 and 2015, basic and non-basic sectors have been determined. Results show that the general characteristics of WEF related sectors in this region can be distinguished clearly based on its main economic development focus. Results show recent growth in WEF sectors locally, from which possible strategies for future sustainable development are formulated that could be considered in the evaluation and planning process. This approach can be expected to assist local government and stakeholders in undertaking preliminary evaluation, in particular the availability of WEF resources, ensuring that development meets local and national sustainable development targets.
Show more [+] Less [-]Plasma activated water (PAW): Chemistry, physico-chemical properties, applications in food and agriculture Full text
2018
Thirumdas, Rohit | Kothakota, Anjinelyulu | Annapure, Uday | Siliveru, Kaliramesh | Blundell, Renald | Gatt, Ruben | Valdramidis, Vasilis P.
Cold plasma is an emerging non-thermal disinfection and surface modification technology which is chemical free, and eco-friendly. Plasma treatment of water, termed as plasma activated water (PAW), creates an acidic environment which results in changes of the redox potential, conductivity and in the formation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). As a result, PAW has different chemical composition than water and can serve as an alternative method for microbial disinfection.This paper reviews the different plasma sources employed for PAW generation, its physico-chemical properties and potential areas of PAW applications. More specifically, the physical and chemical properties of PAW are outlined in relation to the acidity, conductivity, redox potential, and concentration of ROS, RNS in the treated water. All these effects are in microbial nature, so the applications of PAW for microbial disinfection are also summarized in this review. Finally, the role of PAW in improving the agricultural practices, for example, promoting seed germination and plant growth, is also presented.PAW appears to have a synergistic effect on the disinfection of food while it can also promote seedling growth of seeds. The increase in the nitrate and nitrite ions in the PAW could be the main reason for the increase in plant growth. Soaking seeds in PAW not only serves as an anti-bacterial but also enhances the seed germination and plant growth. PAW could potentially be used to increase crop yield and to fight against the drought stress environmental conditions.
Show more [+] Less [-]Local scale water-food nexus: Use of borehole-garden permaculture to realise the full potential of rural water supplies in Malawi Full text
2018
Rivett, M. O. (Mike O.) | Halcrow, Alistair W. | Schmalfuss, Janine | Stark, John A. | Truslove, Jonathan P. | Kumwenda, Steve | Harawa, Kettie A. | Nhlema, Muthi | Songola, Chrispine | Wanangwa, Gift J. | Miller, Alexandra V.M. | Kalin, Robert M.
Local-scale opportunities to address challenges of the water–food nexus in the developing world need to be embraced. Borehole-garden permaculture is advocated as one such opportunity that involves the sustainable use of groundwater spilt at hand-pump operated borehole supplies that is otherwise wasted. Spilt water may also pose health risks when accumulating as a stagnant pond. Rural village community use of this grey-water in permaculture projects to irrigate borehole gardens is proposed to primarily provide economic benefit whereby garden-produce revenue helps fund borehole water-point maintenance. Water-supply sustainability, increased food/nutrition security, health protection from malaria, and business opportunity benefits may also arise. Our goal has been to develop an, experience-based, framework for delivery of sustainable borehole-garden permaculture and associated benefits. This is based upon data collection and permaculture implementation across the rural Chikwawa District of Malawi during 2009–17. We use, stakeholder interviews to identify issues influencing uptake, gathering of stagnant pond occurrence data to estimate amelioration opportunity, quantification of permaculture profitability to validate economic potential, and critical assessment of recent permaculture uptake to identify continuing problems. Permaculture was implemented at 123 sites representing 6% of District water points, rising to 26% local area coverage. Most implementations were at, or near, newly drilled community-supply boreholes; hence, amelioration of prevalent stagnant ponds elsewhere remains a concern. The envisaged benefits of permaculture were manifest and early data affirm projected garden profitability and spin-off benefits of water-point banking and community micro-loan access. However, a diversity of technical, economic, social and governance issues were found to influence uptake and performance. Example issues include greater need for improved bespoke garden design input, on-going project performance assessment, and coordinated involvement of multi-sector governmental-development bodies to underpin the integrated natural-resource management required. The developed framework aims to manage the identified issues and requires the concerted action of all stakeholders. Based on the probable ubiquity of underlying issues, the framework is expected to be generalizable to the wider developing world. However, this particular application of permaculture represents a fraction of its greater potential opportunity for rural communities that should be explored.
Show more [+] Less [-]Improving water quantity simulation & forecasting to solve the energy-water-food nexus issue by using heterogeneous computing accelerated global optimization method Full text
2018
Kan, Guangyuan | Zhang, Mengjie | Liang, Ke | Wang, Hao | Jiang, Yunzhong | Li, Jiren | Ding, Liuqian | He, Xiaoyan | Hong, Yang | Zuo, Depeng | Bao, Zhenxin | Li, Chaochao
With continuous population increase and economic growth, challenges on securing sufficient energy, water, and food supplies are amplifying. Water plays the most important role in the energy-water-food (E-W-F) nexus issue such as energy supply (clean hydropower energy generation), water supply (drinking water), and food supply (agricultural irrigation water). Therefore, water quantity simulation & forecasting become an important issue in E-W-F nexus problem. Water quantity simulation & forecasting model, such as rainfall-runoff (RR) hydrological model has become a useful tool which can significantly improve efficiency of the hydropower energy generation, water supply management, and agricultural irrigation water utilization. The accuracy and reliability of the water quantity simulation & forecasting model are significantly affected by the model parameters. Therefore, demand of effective and fast model parameter optimization tool for solving the E-W-F nexus problem increases significantly. The shuffled complex evolution developed at University of Arizona (SCE-UA) has been recognized as an effective global model parameter optimization method for more than 20years and is highly suited to solve the E-W-F nexus problem. However, the computational efficiency of the SCE-UA dramatically deteriorates when applied to complex E-W-F nexus problem. For the purpose of solving this conundrum, a fast parallel SCE-UA was proposed in this paper. The parallel SCE-UA was implemented on the novel heterogeneous computing hardware and software systems which were constituted by the Intel multi-core CPU, NVIDIA many-core GPU, and PGI Accelerator Visual Fortran (with OpenMP and CUDA). Performance comparisons between the parallel and serial SCE-UA were carried out based on two case studies, the Griewank benchmark function optimization and a real world IHACRES RR hydrological model parameter optimization. Comparison results indicated that the parallel SCE-UA outperformed the serial one and has good application prospects for solving the water quantity simulation & forecasting model parameter calibration in the E-W-F nexus problem.
Show more [+] Less [-]Linking the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable development indicators for the Mediterranean region Full text
2018
Saladini, F. | Betti, G. | Ferragina, E. | Bouraoui, F. | Cupertino, S. | Canitano, G. | Gigliotti, M. | Autino, A. | Pulselli, F.M. | Riccaboni, A. | Bidoglio, G. | Bastianoni, S.
Linking the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable development indicators for the Mediterranean region Full text
2018
Saladini, F. | Betti, G. | Ferragina, E. | Bouraoui, F. | Cupertino, S. | Canitano, G. | Gigliotti, M. | Autino, A. | Pulselli, F.M. | Riccaboni, A. | Bidoglio, G. | Bastianoni, S.
Water use and agricultural practices in the Mediterranean area are unsustainable. The situation is worsened by the increased frequency of droughts and floods, as well as desertification and soil depletion, associated with climate change. The aim of Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is to foster an integrated programme of sustainable food production and water provision in the framework of the water-energy-food nexus. A monitoring tool developed under PRIMA is based on the Sustainable Development Goals, two of which are specifically dedicated to food security (SDG 2) and sustainable management of water (SDG 6).The 12 indicators that have been chosen to be monitored in the Mediterranean area are: Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI); population overweight (%); land use (%); GHG emissions (total and AFOLU)(tCO₂ₑ); cereal yield (kg/ha); agriculture value added (US$/worker); fertilizer consumption (kg/haₐᵣₐbₗₑ ₗₐₙd); crop water productivity (kg/m³); annual freshwater withdrawal for agriculture (%); population served using with safely managed water service (rural, %); population served using with safely managed sanitation (rural, %); amount of agricultural residues used for energy purposes (t). Datasets for these indicators are collected by international bodies such as the World Bank, WHO, FAO and UNFCCC; recent series are available for almost all Mediterranean countries and are constantly updated. The aim of the proposed monitoring tool is to keep track of the impact generated in by PRIMA research and innovation projects Mediterranean countries.
Show more [+] Less [-]Linking the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable development indicators for the Mediterranean region Full text
2018
SALADINI F | BETTI G | FERRAGINA E | BOURAOUI Faycal | CUPERTINO S | CANITANO G | GIGLIOTTI A | AUTINO A | PULSELLI Federico | RICCABONI A | BIDOGLIO Giovanni | BASTIANONI S
Water use and agricultural practices in the Mediterranean area are unsustainable. The situation is worsened by the increased frequency of droughts and floods, as well as desertification and soil depletion, associated with climate change. The aim of Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) is to foster an integrated programme of sustainable food production and water provision in the framework of the water-energy-food nexus. A monitoring tool developed under PRIMA is based on the Sustainable Development Goals, two of which are specifically dedicated to food security (SDG 2) and sustainable management of water (SDG 6). The 12 indicators that have been chosen to be monitored in the Mediterranean area are: Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI); population overweight (%); land use (%); GHG emissions (total and AFOLU)(tCO2e); cereal yield (kg/ha); agriculture value added (US$/worker); fertilizer consumption (kg/haarable land); crop water productivity (kg/m3 ); annual freshwater withdrawal for agriculture (%); population served using with safely managed water service (rural, %); population served using with safely managed sanitation (rural, %); amount of agricultural residues used for energy purposes (t). Datasets for these indicators are collected by international bodies such as the World Bank, WHO, FAO and UNFCCC; recent series are available for almost all Mediterranean countries and are constantly updated. The aim of the proposed monitoring tool is to keep track of the impact generated in by PRIMA research and innovation projects Mediterranean countries. | JRC.D.2 - Water and Marine Resources
Show more [+] Less [-]Food consumption and waste in Spanish households: Water implications within and beyond national borders Full text
2018
Blas, Alejandro | Garrido, Alberto | Willaarts, Bárbara
The improvement of the sustainability of global food systems is a top priority. Many efforts have targeted the production side, yet managing food consumption demand, i.e., people’s eating habits, might deliver important co-benefits from a land, water, and energy perspective. This paper focuses on assessing the water-related implications of food consumption and waste among Spanish consumers to discern possible policy recommendations. Specifically, we estimated the water footprint (WF) of the diet and associated food waste of Spanish households from October 2014 to September 2015, broken down by WF component (green, blue and grey) and its geographical origin. Our results showed that, for the analyzed period, the WF of food consumption in Spain is 52,933 hm3, equivalent to 3302 liters per person and day. The consumptive fraction (green + blue water) of this diet-related WF accounts for 89%, while the remaining 11% (127 m3 per person/year) is attributed to water quality impacts (grey water). The products that account for the largest share in the total WF are meat, fish and animal fats (26%) and dairy products (21%). Likewise, roughly 41% of the total WF linked to household diets is foreign, i.e., imported virtual water, and the main countries of origin are Tunisia, Portugal, and France. The WF of food waste accounts for 2095 hm3, equivalent to 131 liters per person and day. From a policy perspective, several studies have highlighted that high water savings can be achieved by reducing food waste; in Spain, however, eliminating food waste at household level would reduce the Spanish food-related WF by only 4% (292 hm3 of blue water and 1555 hm3 of green water). In the light of these results, a shift back to a Mediterranean diet, in which fruits and vegetables account for a larger share of the food intake, would deliver greater water savings.
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