To face the social, ecological and productive vulnerability in the Pampa biome, it is important to unite production and environmental conservation to improve the quality of life of settled families. The general objective of the present study is to analyze, using the Nexus food-waterenergy approach, the reality of the settled families of the agrarian reform in the Pampa biome, covered by the Sustainable Backyards Project, and to evaluate the potential of agroforestry backyards in improving soil quality. This thesis is structured in the form of chapters. In chapter 1, the main strengths and limitations of settlements in the Pampa were evaluated in terms of food, water and energy security. The study covered the 1755 families contemplated by the Sustainable Backyards Project and from the SIGRA database (Integrated Rural Management System of ATES), 27 indicators were selected. In terms of food security, four indicators were present in more than 70% of the families: raising poultry, grain production, raising pigs and cattle for milk production. Family production focuses on animal husbandry, as evidenced by the correlation between poultry and pig farming. In agricultural crops, grain production (78%) and polycultures (37%) stood out. Water security indicators were present in less than 40% and the highest correlation was established between the presence of rivers/streams and springs. In energy security, the highest representation was established between the presence of electrification and single-phase type in more than 98%. The objective of chapter 2 is to evaluate soil quality under different agroforestry backyards in settlements in the municipalities of Júlio de Castilhos (area A) and Piratini (area B). The physical and chemical attributes showed differences between the sampled areas. The areas of agroforestry backyards and crops differed more intensely from the forest in terms of physical attributes related to soil porosity, when considering soil use in general. In similar areas, the physical and chemical variables were sensitive to soil use and management, considering the history of each piece of land. The results generated in this thesis demonstrate that settled families have an intermediate level of food, water and energy security, highlighting the need for research and promotion of public policies to improve the quality of life of families. In addition, the agroforestry backyards promoted improvements in the physical and chemical properties of the soil in the short term, due to the conservationist management practices carried out by the majority of the families, being recommended the accomplishment of studies and monitoring in the long term. | Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES | Para enfrentar a vulnerabilidade social, ecológica e produtiva no bioma Pampa, é importante unir produção e conservação ambiental para melhorar a qualidade de vida das famílias assentadas. O objetivo geral do presente estudo é analisar com a abordagem Nexus alimentoágua-energia, a realidade das famílias assentadas da reforma agrária no bioma Pampa, contempladas pelo Projeto Quintais Sustentáveis e avaliar o potencial dos quintais agroflorestais em melhorar a qualidade do solo. A presente tese está estruturada em forma de capítulos. No capítulo 1, foram avaliadas as principais potencialidades e limitações nos assentamentos no Pampa quanto a segurança alimentar, hídrica e energética. O estudo abrangeu as 1755 famílias contempladas pelo Projeto Quintais Sustentáveis e a partir do banco de dados do SIGRA (Sistema Integrado de Gestão Rural da ATES), foram selecionados 27 indicadores. Na segurança alimentar, quatro indicadores estiveram presentes em mais de 70% das famílias: criação de aves, produção de grãos, criação de suínos e bovinos para produção de leite. A produção familiar se concentra na criação animal, evidenciada pela correlação entre a criação de aves e a criação de suínos. Nos cultivos agrícolas, se destacou a produção de grãos (78%) e policultivos (37%). Os indicadores de segurança hídrica estiveram presentes em menos de 40% e a maior correlação se estabeleceu entre a presença de rios/riachos e nascentes. Na segurança energética, a maior representação se estabeleceu entre a presença de eletrificação e tipo monofásico em mais de 98%. O objetivo do capítulo 2, é avaliar a qualidade do solo sob diferentes quintais agroflorestais nos assentamentos nos municípios de Júlio de Castilhos (área A) e Piratini (área B). Os atributos físicos e químicos mostraram diferenças entre as áreas amostradas. As áreas de quintais agroflorestais e lavouras se distinguiram da mata mais intensamente quanto aos atributos físicos relacionados a porosidade do solo, quando considerado o uso do solo de forma geral. Em áreas semelhantes, as variáveis físicas e químicas foram sensíveis ao uso e manejo do solo, considerando o histórico de cada gleba. Os resultados gerados nesta tese, demonstram que as famílias assentadas apresentam um nível intermediário de segurança alimentar, hídrica e energética, evidenciando a necessidade de pesquisas e fomento às políticas públicas para melhorar a qualidade de vida das famílias. Além disso, os quintais agroflorestais promoveram melhorias nas propriedades físicas e químicas do solo a curto prazo, devido às práticas de manejo conservacionistas realizadas pela maioria das famílias, sendo recomendável a realização de estudos e monitoramento a longo prazo.

Abstract A classic problem in preservation is the microbes can grow in low-moisture foods. In this paper, the water sorption, and thermodynamic properties of glucose/WPI solid matrices were measured, while their molecular mobility was analyzed and associated with the microbial growth of D. Hansenii at various a w and 30 °C. Although the sorption isotherms, T g , and relaxation processes of studied matrices were affected by a w and WPI, the microbial growth showed highly dependent on water mobility rather than a w . Hence, we introduced water usability (U w ), derived from the mobility difference between system-involved water and liquid pure water explicating from the classical thermodynamic viewpoint, to describe the dynamic changes of water mobility in glucose/WPI matrices. Despite to a w , the yeast growth rate was enhanced at high U w matrices concomitantly with a rapid cell doubling time. Therefore, the proposed U w provides a better understanding of the water relationships of microorganisms in food preservation.

The management of water resources requires a correct understanding of the simultaneous management of food and energy resources. The framework of water–food–energy correlation with the approach of sustainability of resources and uses analyzes the combined management and exploitation of water, food, and energy resources with the help of scenario planning. In addition to sustainability concepts, environmental costs such as the emission of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and its impact on the environment are also discussed. In this research, according to the five defined indicators and based on the potential of using solar energy and the possibility of exploiting renewable energy sources such as solar energy, various management scenarios have been developed. After examining the virtual water management model developed in the Hunan basin as a case study, the development of the water–food–energy nexus model and its calibration, and four scenarios including improving water use efficiency, energy saving, increasing food productivity, and nexus sustainability were developed. The results showed that the nexus strategy can provide sustainability goals according to the weight of each component. After the combined scenario, improving the efficiency of water consumption can be the component with the highest priority in the decision-making model in dry areas. HIGHLIGHTS The water–food–energy nexus is evaluated as a conceptual approach for achieving sustainable management.; Improving water use efficiency, energy saving, increasing food productivity, and nexus sustainability were considered.; The developed approach provides a significant contribution to achieving regional sustainable development goals.;

Although nitrate is the essential nutrient of our body, the excess amount of it as residues strongly causes disease. Nitrate comes from plant and animal foods that are vital to our metabolism. The nitrate is absorbed through the soil by plants and becomes an herbal protein that is placed in the food chain. If the nitrate is absorbed more than the plant requirement, it will be accumulated into the plant’s organs. Since nitrogen fertilizers increase the weight and yield of the plants, farmers consume large amounts of which. Hence, we investigate the consumption of nitrogen fertilizers in the world and the standard allowable residual nitrate in food and water considering the accumulation of nitrate in water and food. Excess amount of nitrate in the soil enters the drinking water after leaching or directly transported from groundwater to surface water and drinking water. The entry of the excess amount of nitrate from food products and drinking water into our bodies causes dangerous diseases such as different types of cancers, methemoglobinemia, osteoporosis, kidney stones, and some other diseases. The present article, besides indicating the benefits of nitrate for Treatment purposes and demonstrating the state of nitrate accumulation in food and water as well as its standards, deals with diseases caused by it and presents some remedies to reduce the risks.

Food and waterborne illnesses are still a major concern in health and food safety areas. Every year, almost 0.42 million and 2.2 million deaths related to food and waterborne illness are reported worldwide, respectively. In foodborne pathogens, bacteria such as <i>Salmonella</i>, Shiga-toxin producer <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Campylobacter</i>, and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> are considered to be high-concern pathogens. High-concern waterborne pathogens are <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>, leptospirosis, <i>Schistosoma mansoni,</i> and <i>Schistosima japonicum</i>, among others. Despite the major efforts of food and water quality control to monitor the presence of these pathogens of concern in these kinds of sources, foodborne and waterborne illness occurrence is still high globally. For these reasons, the development of novel and faster pathogen-detection methods applicable to real-time surveillance strategies are required. Methods based on biosensor devices have emerged as novel tools for faster detection of food and water pathogens, in contrast to traditional methods that are usually time-consuming and are unsuitable for large-scale monitoring. Biosensor devices can be summarized as devices that use biochemical reactions with a biorecognition section (isolated enzymes, antibodies, tissues, genetic materials, or aptamers) to detect pathogens. In most cases, biosensors are based on the correlation of electrical, thermal, or optical signals in the presence of pathogen biomarkers. The application of nano and molecular technologies allows the identification of pathogens in a faster and high-sensibility manner, at extremely low-pathogen concentrations. In fact, the integration of gold, silver, iron, and magnetic nanoparticles (NP) in biosensors has demonstrated an improvement in their detection functionality. The present review summarizes the principal application of nanomaterials and biosensor-based devices for the detection of pathogens in food and water samples. Additionally, it highlights the improvement of biosensor devices through nanomaterials. Nanomaterials offer unique advantages for pathogen detection. The nanoscale and high specific surface area allows for more effective interaction with pathogenic agents, enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of the biosensors. Finally, biosensors’ capability to functionalize with specific molecules such as antibodies or nucleic acids facilitates the specific detection of the target pathogens.

Nexo água-energia-alimento nas Bacias Hidrográficas dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e JUNDIAÍ (PCJ) sob condições históricas e de projeções de mudanças climáticas     TAMIRES LIMA DA SILVA1; RODRIGO MÁXIMO SÁNCHEZ ROMÁN2;  HESSAM S. SARJOUGHIAN3 E MOSTAFA D. FARD4   1 Engenharia rural e socioeconomia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Botucatu, Av. Universitária, 3780, Altos do Paraíso, 18610-034, Botucatu, SP, Brasil, [email protected] 2 Engenharia rural e socioeconomia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Botucatu, Av. Universitária, 3780, Altos do Paraíso, 18610-034, Botucatu, SP, Brasil, [email protected] 3 Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University (ASU), S Mill Avenue, 699, 85287-8809, Tempe, AZ, Estados Unidos da América, [email protected] 4 Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University (ASU), S Mill Avenue, 699, 85287-8809, Tempe, AZ, Estados Unidos da América, [email protected]     1 RESUMO   A abordagem nexo água-energia-alimento (AEA) promove a integração entre gestão e governança em diferentes escalas e setores para o desenvolvimento socioeconômico sustentável. Este estudo objetivou modelar o nexo AEA nas Bacias dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (PCJ) sob condições históricas e em cenários de mudanças climáticas. Modelos foram desenvolvidos nos programas WEAP e LEAP, abrangendo o período de 1995 a 2019 para a condição histórica e de 2020 a 2070 para as projeções climáticas. Utilizando o WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework, estabeleceu-se um modelo de interação para troca de dados entre o WEAP e o LEAP. No WEAP, as alterações na vazão das Bacias PCJ devido às mudanças climáticas foram modeladas com dados do Modelo Climático Regional Eta para os cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5. Os resultados indicam que, nos cenários futuros, a geração de energia hidrelétrica será comprometida, enquanto a demanda hídrica e o consumo de energia elétrica para irrigação aumentarão 35,6% e 82,7%, respectivamente, impulsionados por um crescimento na produção de alimentos projetado de 21,3%. Esses resultados evidenciam a interdependência entre os recursos água, energia e alimento nas Bacias PCJ.   Palavras-chave: WEAP, LEAP, WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework, irrigação, agricultura.     SILVA, T. L.; SÁNCHEZ-ROMÁN, R. M.; SARJOUGHIAN, H. S.; FARD, M. D. WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN THE PIRACICABA, CAPIVARI, AND JUNDIAÍ RIVER BASINS (PCJ) UNDER HISTORIC CONDITIONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS         2 ABSTRACT   The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach promotes integrated management and governance across scales and sectors to achieve sustainable socioeconomic development. This study aimed to model the WEF nexus in the Piracicaba, Capivari, and Jundiaí (PCJ) river basins under historical conditions and future climate scenarios. Models were developed using WEAP and LEAP programs, covering the period from 1995 to 2019 for historical conditions and from 2020 to 2070 for climate projections. The WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework enabled data exchange between WEAP and LEAP to model interactions effectively. In WEAP, the projected impacts of climate change on streamflow in the PCJ basins were modeled using data from the Eta Regional Climate Model under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The findings indicate that, in future scenarios, hydropower generation will be compromised, while water and electricity demand for irrigation will increase by 35.6% and 82.7%, respectively, driven by a projected food production growth of 21.3%. These results highlight the interdependence between water, energy, and food resources in the PCJ basins.   Keywords: WEAP, LEAP, WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework, irrigation, agriculture. | Nexo água-energia-alimento nas Bacias Hidrográficas dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e JUNDIAÍ (PCJ) sob condições históricas e de projeções de mudanças climáticas     TAMIRES LIMA DA SILVA1; RODRIGO MÁXIMO SÁNCHEZ ROMÁN2;  HESSAM S. SARJOUGHIAN3 E MOSTAFA D. FARD4   1 Engenharia rural e socioeconomia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Botucatu, Av. Universitária, 3780, Altos do Paraíso, 18610-034, Botucatu, SP, Brasil, [email protected] 2 Engenharia rural e socioeconomia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Botucatu, Av. Universitária, 3780, Altos do Paraíso, 18610-034, Botucatu, SP, Brasil, [email protected] 3 Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University (ASU), S Mill Avenue, 699, 85287-8809, Tempe, AZ, Estados Unidos da América, [email protected] 4 Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University (ASU), S Mill Avenue, 699, 85287-8809, Tempe, AZ, Estados Unidos da América, [email protected]     1 RESUMO   A abordagem nexo água-energia-alimento (AEA) promove a integração entre gestão e governança em diferentes escalas e setores para o desenvolvimento socioeconômico sustentável. Este estudo objetivou modelar o nexo AEA nas Bacias dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (PCJ) sob condições históricas e em cenários de mudanças climáticas. Modelos foram desenvolvidos nos programas WEAP e LEAP, abrangendo o período de 1995 a 2019 para a condição histórica e de 2020 a 2070 para as projeções climáticas. Utilizando o WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework, estabeleceu-se um modelo de interação para troca de dados entre o WEAP e o LEAP. No WEAP, as alterações na vazão das Bacias PCJ devido às mudanças climáticas foram modeladas com dados do Modelo Climático Regional Eta para os cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5. Os resultados indicam que, nos cenários futuros, a geração de energia hidrelétrica será comprometida, enquanto a demanda hídrica e o consumo de energia elétrica para irrigação aumentarão 35,6% e 82,7%, respectivamente, impulsionados por um crescimento na produção de alimentos projetado de 21,3%. Esses resultados evidenciam a interdependência entre os recursos água, energia e alimento nas Bacias PCJ.   Palavras-chave: WEAP, LEAP, WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework, irrigação, agricultura.     SILVA, T. L.; SÁNCHEZ-ROMÁN, R. M.; SARJOUGHIAN, H. S.; FARD, M. D. WATER-ENERGY-FOOD NEXUS IN THE PIRACICABA, CAPIVARI, AND JUNDIAÍ RIVER BASINS (PCJ) UNDER HISTORIC CONDITIONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS         2 ABSTRACT   The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach promotes integrated management and governance across scales and sectors to achieve sustainable socioeconomic development. This study aimed to model the WEF nexus in the Piracicaba, Capivari, and Jundiaí (PCJ) river basins under historical conditions and future climate scenarios. Models were developed using WEAP and LEAP programs, covering the period from 1995 to 2019 for historical conditions and from 2020 to 2070 for climate projections. The WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework enabled data exchange between WEAP and LEAP to model interactions effectively. In WEAP, the projected impacts of climate change on streamflow in the PCJ basins were modeled using data from the Eta Regional Climate Model under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The findings indicate that, in future scenarios, hydropower generation will be compromised, while water and electricity demand for irrigation will increase by 35.6% and 82.7%, respectively, driven by a projected food production growth of 21.3%. These results highlight the interdependence between water, energy, and food resources in the PCJ basins.   Keywords: WEAP, LEAP, WEAP-KIB-LEAP framework, irrigation, agriculture.

The growing importance to finding workable solutions to the problem of unsustainable and inefficient resource use cannot be overstated.  In the world facing one of its critical sustainability periods, efficient resource utilization to ensure sustainable development is a problem policymakers should grapple with at a loc, regional and local levels. Because of this, the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus has seen a growing number of proponents and supporters worldwide.  This thesis examines the WEFE nexus and its relevance for sustainable resource management, focusing on South Africa’s Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (IUWMA).  WEFE nexus criticizes existing sector-based approaches for their limited recognition of cross-sectoral linkages.  This thesis presents a systematic review of the WEFE nexus in the IUWMA, identifying policy gaps and making recommendations to enhance integrated resource and environmental management based on the WEFE nexus approach.  The findings highlight various factors affecting energy generation, agriculture, water quality and quantity, and ecosystem-related factors within the IUWMA.  The thesis also provides an overview of critical policies related to the WEFE nexus in the IUWMA, demonstrating coherence (or lack thereof) and environmental considerations, and international cooperation.  The implementation of the WEFE nexus policy faces opportunities in collaboration but challenges such as institutional barriers, knowledge gaps, and limited political will.  The IUWMA also presents a complicated case owing to its transboundary nature, to which special attention must be paid when considering WEFE nexus approaches.  The discussion emphasizes the need for a holistic WEFE nexus approach to avoid inefficiencies and conflicts and calls for strong governance structures and equitable resource allocation.  Implementing the WEFE nexus approach can foster collaboration, sustainable resource management, land resilience to climate change impacts with political support, regional cooperation, and stakeholder engagement.