This report presents the main findings of the Nexus assessment study for Sudan. It identified Water-Energy-Food Nexus priority issues in Sudan, suggested operational guidance to align national strategies, policies and implementation plans within a national Nexus framework, identified opportunities to apply the Nexus approach, including institutional settings and capacity building needs, and suggested a series of Water-Energy-Food Nexus projects in Sudan.

This report presents the main findings of the Nexus assessment study for Sudan. It identified Water-Energy-Food Nexus priority issues in Sudan, suggested operational guidance to align national strategies, policies and implementation plans within a national Nexus framework, identified opportunities to apply the Nexus approach, including institutional settings and capacity building needs, and suggested a series of Water-Energy-Food Nexus projects in Sudan. | Non-PR | IFPRI5 | EPTD

BACKGROUND: Poor quality irrigation water is a major cause of disease transmission for urban inhabitants consuming fresh produce in many developing countries. Irradiation of food is an alternative approach to reducing health risks for consumers, but its implementation depends heavily on consumer acceptance.RESULTS: In this pilot study, we show that most respondents consider the water quality of Mexico City to be poor and a health risk, and would be willing to pay for irradiated food as a means of pasteurizing fresh iceberg lettuce.CONCLUSION: Irradiated food could, potentially, be accepted in developing countries that have problems with water quality. Such acceptance would presumably be due to the perception that such a novel technology would (1) alleviate water impairment, and (2) lead to economic improvement. It is then possible that the public considers that water quality is a more pressing concern than any potential side effects of food irradiation.

With adverse impacts of climate change growing in number and intensity, there is an urgent need to reduce emissions from food systems to net zero. This can only be achieved if rural areas in low- and middle-income countries gain access to clean energy. A review of the research and capacity building contributions of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) over the last 10 years suggests important contributions in the areas of energy policy and energy investment planning, cost and feasibility frameworks, and business models for clean energy technology uptake. WLE has also conducted successful pilot projects on solar irrigation to provide an evidence base for scaling up innovative energy initiatives. Finally, the program also considered non-agricultural uses of energy where relevant to food systems, and implemented capacity building activities. Going forward, CGIAR has a key role to play in providing information, supporting access and piloting innovative, scalable clean energy interventions to support the achievement of multiple impacts for the poorest and most food-insecure women and men farmers and entrepreneurs.