In this review paper we focus on the dilemma of whether or not current fresh water supply will meet the demand/needs of agricultural crops despite the continuing impact of water scarcity. In addition, we evaluate whether an increase in future population, change in water demand and supply patterns, due to climate change, will allow sustainable food production. With increased scarcity of freshwater, new water conservation technologies and biotechnology were developed, as well as newly developed water sources such as recycled wastewater, and various water institutions, which may help ease water scarcity. With new advancements in farming practices and crop innovations global food supply is still challenged by climate change effects on both water and land resources used for food production.

This article investigates the relationship between the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in Brazil in an exploratory and statistical study over the period from 2000 to 2013. For that purpose, the explanatory variables considered were the following: Access to improved water; Access to electricity and Average protein supply. Furthermore, it was introduced some brief facts about WEF nexus security in Brazil. With such explanatory variables, it was performed descriptive statistics, ensuring the assumption of data normality approach, and consequently calculating the descriptive statistics and correlation. The results of correlation showed that the quantitative relation between the three factors was extremely strong. These data allowed to understand the relation between these indicators and its status as a nexus in Brazil. Therefore, it is concluded that pursuing an active policy to manage demand in WEF nexus could lead sustainability processes.

This article investigates the relationship between the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in Brazil in an exploratory and statistical study over the period from 2000 to 2013. For that purpose, the explanatory variables considered were the following: Access to improved water; Access to electricity and Average protein supply. Furthermore, some brief facts about WEF nexus security in Brazil was introduced. With such explanatory variables, descriptive statistics was performed, ensuring the assumption of data normality approach, and consequently calculating the descriptive statistics and correlation. The results of correlation showed that the quantitative relation between the three factors was extremely strong. These data allowed to understand the relation between these indicators and its status as a nexus in Brazil. Therefore, it is concluded that pursuing an active policy to manage demand in WEF nexus could lead sustainability processes.

The economic, environmental and social benefits of more sensitive land use practices that protect or restore the natural functions of river catchments have been widely discussed. Changing land use has implications for a wide range of other biological communities. Some studies have already been undertaken on the benefits of sensitive farming at the catchment scale in England and Wales. However, there is a gap in these studies at the local scale, and particularly for upland farms from which headwaters arise. This article documents a case study relating to a successful partnership in Cumbria, UK, set within the wider context of catchment management. Whilst the case study is not highly detailed, and some costs have been described in outline only to protect confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, it provides some generic lessons and may therefore be useful in informing more sustainable policy-making. High Hullockhowe Farm near Haweswater, which was used a the case study highlighting changes in farm practise, costs and benefits, water resources and biodiversity. The authors relate the case study to wider policy implications.

CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) | Rosegrant Mark W. et al., 'Water for agriculture Maintaining food security under growing scarcity', In Food Security, Volume Two – Producing enough food, Part Two – Water, land, and climate change, ed. Mark W. Rosegrant, IFPRI, 2014

Synthesis of contributions and policy dialogue at the International Conference on Policies for Water and Food Security in Dry Areas . Toward a framework for countries and development partners for long-term investment in water management for food security in the Middle East and North Africa region | Roberto Telleria. (30/6/2013). Policies for Water and Food Security in Dry Areas. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) | Rosegrant Mark W., 'Challenges and Policies for Global Water and Food Security', Economic Review Special issue 2016: 5 - 20, IFPRI, 2016

There is a need to address resource security and distributional justice in developing countries. People need water, energy, and food to sustain their livelihoods, grow economies, and achieve sustainable development. The interactions between these resource sectors form the crux of water-energy-food (WEF) nexus assessments. In this study, we have utilised the WEF Nexus Index to analyse the WEF nexus of 54 African nations. The results from the analysis were used to illustrate the opportunities and constraints for future development. Generally, African countries are performing sub-optimally in the WEF Nexus Index due to the insecurity of water, energy and/or food. The performance of countries varies with context, highlighting the need for contextual analysis in identifying challenges and potential solutions. Implementation of interventions for achieving WEF security needs to be planned from an integrated perspective to optimise synergies and minimize trade-offs. Implementation of the WEF nexus approach towards simultaneous security of WEF resources has potential to improve the WEF nexus. For example and for many African countries, policies that undergird investments in energy supply projects are needed to unlock available freshwater resources and meet food requirements—energy is shown to be a critical enabler of development. Such projects can be utilised to enhance the ability of farmers to manage water through drought-proofing rainfed agriculture, an increase in irrigation development, or both. WEF nexus-based studies, policies, and projects must be focused on the direct and indirect achievement of SDGs 1, 2, 6, 7, and 13, both in terms of access and availability, to ensure distributional justice, especially in the African context. Such actions, combined with broad public participation, can have a ripple effect on other SDGs such as SDGs 5, 10, and 17, thereby reducing inequalities and building partnerships to attain these aspirational goals. The assessment of Africa’s relatively low scores in terms of the WEF Nexus Index does not represent a negative narrative. Instead, it provides an entry point to identifying hotspots and understanding the underlying challenges, through which more detailed analyses can lead to identified solutions and policies. Many African countries are trapped in an environment that could be termed a ‘poverty-unemployment-inequality nexus’ (due to the interlinkages that exist between these ‘wicked’ problems). The WEF Nexus Index provides high-level insights into these opportunities.

Relying on published literature, we reviewed water-energy-food issues in Lao PDR in the context of a policy shift to more sustainable ‘green growth’ and significantly increased infrastructure investment resulting from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The BRI provides the prospect for the country to address its infrastructure deficit and transform from a ‘land-locked’ to a ‘land-linked’ country. However, great care is needed to ensure that future investments do not result in further environmental degradation and harm to communities. An integrated ‘nexus’ approach, in which enhanced water management is central, is a prerequisite for more inclusive and sustainable development.