The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus concept highlights the importance of integrative solutions that secure resource supplies and meet demands sustainably. There is a need for translating the nexus concept into clear frameworks and tools that can be applied to decision making. A simulation and analytics framework, and a concomitant Nexus Simulation System (NexSym) is presented here. NexSym advances the state-of-the-art in nexus tools by explicit dynamic modelling of local techno-ecological interactions relevant to WEF operations. The modular tool integrates models for ecosystems, WEF production and consumption components and allows the user to build, simulate and analyse a “flowsheet” of a local system. This enables elucidation of critical interactions and gaining knowledge and understanding that supports innovative solutions by balancing resource supply and demand and increasing synergies between components, while maintaining ecosystems. NexSym allowed assessment of the synergistic design of a local nexus system in a UK eco-town. The design improved local nutrient balance and meets 100% of electricity demand, while achieving higher carbon capture and biomass provisioning, higher water reuse and food production, however with a remarkable impact on land use.

The emulsifying properties of six commercial milk protein products were studied. The products were separated into one of two groups depending on whether they contained aggregated (micellar) casein or disordered protein (casein or whey protein). Disordered proteins had a greater emulsifying ability than aggregated proteins. Dispersion of aggregated protein in dissociating buffer improved the emulsifying ability. Comparison of emulsion properties in simple oil-in-water emulsions with those in a model coffee whitener formulation showed that the lower emulsifying ability of aggregated protein could be partially compensated by other ingredients.

Fred Kizito, Timothy O. Williams, Matthew P. McCartney, Teklu Erkossa, 'Green and blue water dimensions of foreign direct investment in biofuel and food production in West Africa: the case of Ghana and Mali', Routledge, 2013

The overall and specific migrations of BADGE n = 0 monomer and m-XDA hardener from a BEPOX LAB 889 (Gairesa internal code), epoxy system cured at room temperature, into three water-based food simulants are studied. Hydrolysis of BADGE n = 0 was observed in all of these simulants, giving more polar products. We thus propose changing the EEC Directives, which at present only legislate for levels of BADGE n = 0 monomer in the simulants, to include the hydrolysis products of BADGE monomers. Another alternative would be to express all the migration levels due to BADGE and its derived products in terms of BADGE itself.

International audience | The relationship between irrigated schemes, farms and agro-food processors may provide leeway to improve water saving and water productivity. This study was conducted in the dairy supply area of the Tadla irrigation scheme in Morocco and in the oasis area in southern Tunisia where dates are grown for export. The study was based on (i) a framework conceptualizing the relationship between production/marketing of agricultural raw material and water saving and productivity and (ii) a participatory research method aimed at supporting stakeholders in solving their production problems. Analysis of the organization of the two supply chains revealed the central role of intermediate operators in aggregating raw material and providing services to farmers. A decision support approach for dairy farmers was designed and tested in the Tadla scheme. Its use is illustrated by four scenarios that simulate the impacts of changes in both forage crops and irrigation techniques on farm income and water consumption and productivity. Lessons drawn from this work concern support for stakeholders and the integration of production functions from the irrigated scheme to the agro-processors in the whole supply chain. | Les relations entre périmètres irrigués, exploitations agricoles et filières agro-alimentaires représentent un levier d’action potentiel pour améliorer l’économie et la valorisation de l’eau d’irrigation. Cette étude conduite dans le bassin de collecte laitier du Tadla au Maroc, et le bassin de production de la datte d’exportation dans le Sud Tunisien, se base sur un cadre conceptualisant le lien entre les variables de production et de commercialisation de la matière première agricole et les notions d’économie et de valorisation de l’eau. Elle mobilise une démarche de recherche intervention visant a` aider les acteurs dans la résolution de leurs problèmes. L’analyse du fonctionnement des deux chaînes d’approvisionnement souligne l’importance des opérateurs intermédiaires entre agriculteurs et opérateurs aval pour agréger la matière première et fournir des services aux agriculteurs. Une démarche d’accompagnement des éleveurs laitiers a été expérimentée sur le Tadla. Son utilisation est illustrée par la simulation de quatre scénarios articulant des changements de cultures fourragères et de techniques d’irrigation. Les leçons tirées de cette expérience concernent tant la démarche proposée que l’intégration des fonctions de production au sein de la chaîne d’approvisionnement, depuis le gestionnaire du périmètre jusqu’aux opérateurs aval.