In less than one year the Niger Basin Authority, an intergovernmental body tasked with the sustainable development of the Niger waters and associated resources, passed the first ever nexus policy in a transboundary river basin, contributing to a true acceleration of change for improved water and associated development in the Niger River Basin. The guidelines were developed in close collaboration with the nine basin countries and complemented by a large capacity building program. Using the guidelines can reduce the threat of adverse impacts on the Basin’s shared water and land resources and save millions of dollars of investment funds, while meeting various Shared Vision objectives. Doing so can also help strengthen positive impacts, reduce crosssectoral constraints of single-sector solutions, and identify multisector solutions. Application of the nexus guidelines will increase the efficiency of natural resources use and support implementation and monitoring of (multipurpose) investments. If this can be achieved, the River of Rivers—thought to be the original meaning of the name Niger—will continue to enhance water, food and energy security, and environmental sustainability for generations to come. To support the application of the guidelines, the study team developed an online, simplified nexus assessment tool that is summarized in Appendix 4.

Urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to urban sustainability through its interactions with food, water, and energy (FEW) resource flows, and thus needs to be evaluated and analyzed through an integrative rather than a siloed approach. This publication provides an overview of the concept of FEW nexuses in the urban context and describes the role of urban agriculture and its sustainability implications for FEW nexuses and resources. Specific local case studies provide examples. This publication provides a holistic, interdisciplinary lens to understand the crucial role and sustainability implications of urban agriculture, currently gaining momentum in the global research and policy agenda. The fact sheet should be useful to urban and regional planners and policy-makers engaged in the development of urban agriculture, as well as to Extension agents seeking to communicate the sustainability implications of urban agriculture.

Urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to urban sustainability through its interactions with food, water, and energy (FEW) resource flows, and thus needs to be evaluated and analyzed through an integrative rather than a siloed approach. This publication provides an overview of the concept of FEW nexuses in the urban context and describes the role of urban agriculture and its sustainability implications for FEW nexuses and resources. Specific local case studies provide examples. This publication provides a holistic, interdisciplinary lens to understand the crucial role and sustainability implications of urban agriculture, currently gaining momentum in the global research and policy agenda. The fact sheet should be useful to urban and regional planners and policy-makers engaged in the development of urban agriculture, as well as to Extension agents seeking to communicate the sustainability implications of urban agriculture.

This comprehensive review explores aquaponics as an environmentally friendly solution aligned with SDGs and food sovereignty, assessing various aspects from system design to automation, and weighing social, economic, and environmental benefits through literature and case studies. However, challenges persist in obtaining organic certification and legislative recognition, hindering its growth. Achieving remarkable water use efficiency, up to 90%, relies on adaptable fish species like Nile tilapia and carp. Nutrient-rich fish feeds notably benefit low-nutrient-demanding greens. Ensuring water quality and efficient nitrification are pivotal, supported by IoT systems. Despite its efficiency, integrating Industry 4.0 involves complexity and cost barriers, necessitating ongoing innovation. Economies of scale and supportive horticultural policies can bolster its viability. Aquaponics, known for its efficiency in enhancing crop yields while minimizing water use and waste, is expanding globally, especially in water-scarce regions. Aquaponics, pioneered by the University of the Virgin Islands, is expanding in Europe, notably in Spain, Denmark, Italy, and Germany. Asia and Africa also recognize its potential for sustainable food production, especially in water-limited areas. While it offers fresh produce and cost savings, challenges arise in scaling up, managing water quality, and meeting energy demands, particularly for indoor systems. Egypt’s interest in desert and coastal regions highlights aquaponics’ eco-friendly food production potential. Despite the associated high costs, there is a quest for practical and affordable designs for everyday integration. Research in arid regions and industry advancements are crucial for aquaponics’ global food production potential. Deeper exploration of intelligent systems and automation, particularly in large-scale setups, is essential, highlighting the industry’s promise. Practical application, driven by ongoing research and local adaptations, is a key to fully harnessing aquaponics for sustainable food production worldwide.

This document provides a method module for the assessment of the true price of an agricultural or horticultural product, within the public-private partnership ‘Echte en Eerlijke Prijs’. It contains the key methodological aspects to measure and value three impacts of agri-food products and value chains: air, soil and water pollution.

To achieve climate neutrality in the food sector, there is an urgent need for eco-friendly steam boilers. The absorption-compression heat pumps (ACHP) using an ammonia-water mixture as working fluid can provide a high heat sink temperature at low discharge pressure levels and with temperature glides in absorption and desorption. The present study aims to investigate the performance of the ACHP for hot water and steam production. The simulation model was established based on an ACHP prototype in a NTNU lab. A case of 150 kW heating capacity was simulated with a high pressure of 23.65 bar and a low pressure of 4 bar. The system COP was 2.85 for a pressurized hot water supply temperature of 105 °C. The system performance at different temperature lifts with different heat source inlet temperatures was investigated. In addition, the effects of rich solution composition and compressor intercooling on the system performance were also analyzed. | publishedVersion

A lack of equitable access to water among marginalized populations is a key constraint to the transformative agri-food system in Bangladesh. A centralized approach to managing water, persistent contextual socioecological barriers and the dominance of the powerful elite at multiple levels in the water governance systems have led to the exclusion of women, the poor, fishers and the landless from equitably accessing water resources. These challenges contradict national policy guidelines on participatory water management. The Asia Mega-Deltas initiative, in partnership with the Oxfam-led Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA)—Rivers, Rights and Resilience Project, plans to implement participatory research using a transdisciplinary approach that involves multiple sectors and stakeholders in water management to identify actionable pathways to addressing complex water issues. The TROSA second phase (2023–2026) will continue to work with evidence-based advocacy on inclusive water resources governance while addressing impacts of climate change on riparian communities through incorporating a citizen science approach for river health, supporting youth initiatives in the water sector, facilitating bilateral dialogues, strengthening resilience of livelihoods and ensuring people’s rights over river with special focus on women and Indigenous communities.

Resumen Objetivo: Proporcionar un marco conceptual de la esquematización del nexo agua-alimentos-comercio internacional utilizando el modelo actancial, basado en el análisis cualitativo de las relaciones que se presentan entre sus participantes con un enfoque integrador. Diseño metodológico: Se explica bajo la lógica del modelo actancial centrado en la descripción y clasificación de personajes, o bien, llamados actantes. El análisis se basó en la revisión de artículos que exponen el contexto y debate de los elementos del modelo actancial, que permitieran identificar las principales características que explican al actante y sus interrelaciones a través de la esquematización en el nexo de estudio. Resultados: Permiten comprender de manera esquemática y cualitativa las relaciones que subyacen entre los elementos que componen el nexo agua-alimentoscomercio internacional con una visión novedosa, argumentando el rol que desempeñan cada uno de los componentes de los actantes y los ejes del nexo. Esto es relevante debido a que la comercialización de agua virtual, puede conducir a serios problemas de dependencia hidro-alimentaria, por lo que se necesita de la formulación de políticas públicas estratégicas y efectivas en el corto y largo plazo. Limitaciones de la investigación: Se sugiere complementar esta investigación con un análisis cuantitativo bajo una perspectiva de la complejidad de redes que pueda valorar los efectos de estas interrelaciones desde una postura teórica y práctica e incorporar otros agentes que determinan la política hídrica y comercial de manera estratégica hacia una menor dependencia hidroalimentaria. Hallazgos: Estas interrelaciones son diversas e intensivas, destacando la importancia y compresión del nexo a escala global y nacional. | Abstract Purpose: To provide a conceptual framework for the schematization of the water-food-international trade nexus using the actantial model, based on the qualitative analysis of the relationships that occur among its participants with an integrative approach. Methodological Design: It is explained under the logic of the actantial model, centered on the description and classification of characters, also known as actants. The analysis was based on the review of articles that present the context and discussion of the elements of the actantial model, enabling the identification of the main characteristics that explain the actant and its interrelationships through schematization in the study’s nexus. Results: The results provide a schematic and qualitative understanding of the underlying relationships among the elements comprising the water-food-international trade nexus, offering a novel perspective and arguing for the roles played by each actant component and nexus axes. This is significant because virtual water trade can lead to serious issues of hydro food dependency, necessitating the formulation of strategic and effective public policies in both the short and long term. Research Limitations: It is suggested to complement this research with a quantitative analysis from a network complexity perspective. This analysis would allow for the assessment of the effects of these interrelationships both theoretically and practically, while also integrating other agents that strategically shape water and trade policies, aiming to reduce hydro-food dependence. Findings: These interrelationships are diverse and intensive, underscoring the significance of global as well as national scale comprehension of the nexus.