Soil and water conservation technologies are critical in reducing drought and soil erosion risks and increasing crop yields and incomes. Yet, there is limited empirical evidence on the extent and impacts of adopting soil and water conservation technologies in Tanzania. The study’s objective is to evaluate the adoption (as well as the duration of adoption) and the impacts of soil and water conservation technologies on income and food security in Tanzania. The study employs a control function approach and the instrumental variable quantile treatment effects model to survey data from 575 households to estimate the average and distributional impacts of adoption. The results show that the adoption and duration of adopting soil and water conservation technologies had significant and positive effects on the total value of crop production and household income. Moreover, we find that the adoption and its duration had a significant and positive impact on the food security indicator—household dietary diversity. The results from the instrumental variable quantile treatment effects model also show that the impacts of adopting soil and water conservation technologies on the outcome variables are positive and significant, although they vary significantly across the income and food security distributions. The results indicate that even though adoption benefits households in both the lower and upper quantiles of the income and food security distributions, the marginal impacts of adoption are generally more significant for the households in the upper quantiles. The paper concludes by discussing the policy options for increasing and sustaining the adoption and impacts of soil and water conservation technologies in Tanzania.

Water, energy, and food are linked in intricate ways in irrigated agriculture and understanding the interplay of these components is crucial for sustainable and profitable crop production, particularly in smallholder setting such as in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates water-energy-food linkages, engineering and economic performance, irrigation decision making, and challenges faced around water management in a community-based mechanized irrigation scheme in Rwanda. The research is the first to analyze such as scheme, which uses technology typically used by large farmers in a smallholder setting. The study investigates the variation in water requirements and the relationship and impacts of this variability on crop yield for the crops grown in the scheme: maize, French beans, and dry beans. Observed irrigation decision-making analyses demonstrate a lack of irrigation planning during growth stages and significant field-to-field variation in irrigation; this is linked to yield reduction in major crops. Results suggest that farmers irrigated only 31% of modeled irrigation water in dry beans and 27% of modeled irrigation water in maize. An econometric model assessment is used to understand the relationship between yield and energy inputs. A related policy analysis considers the impacts of changes in crop and water management on field-level profits and system-level financial sustainability. This study has implications for understanding irrigation policies in the context of the water-energy-food nexus and decision-making in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This chapter focuses on the multiple facets and meanings of water and how it is a contested resource. It also explores linkages between SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 2 (Zero hunger). Water is essential for all life and integral to the functioning of food systems; similarly, changes in our food systems are essential to achieve SDG 6. And improvements in both are needed to reduce inequities in resources and achievements. As an example, land, food and water rights often go hand in hand, and are marked by gender, caste, racial and other exclusions. The chapter highlights how accessing water for food security can be challenging for smallholders and for vulnerable and marginalized women and men, and how water allocation systems, privatization and reform processes can affect local people’s rights to water, land and food. It argues for the need to improve policy coherence across water, land and food, and concludes by making a case for strengthening the relationship between the human right to water and food, especially for marginalized women and men. | PR | IFPRI4; Capacity Strengthening; 1 Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply | Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR); Transformation Strategies

Cellulose has been explored as potential alternative to traditional petroleum-based packaging materials, but its hygroscopic features lead to fast penetration of water and reduced mechanical properties of cellulose-based materials under humid and wet conditions. Chemical vapor deposition of organosilanes can incorporate hydrophobic moieties to overcome water sensitivity, but also decrease the strength of cellulose films. Herein, two commonly used organosilanes were selected to improve the water resistance of cellulose films, and cellulose nanocrystals were incorporated to compensate for the loss in mechanical strength. The results revealed that the films with dual modifications showed the unchanged tensile strength of around 57 MPa when the environmental relative humidity increased from 0 to 60 % and the highest wet strength of about 12 MPa compared to the original and singly modified cellulose films. The water vapor permeability significantly decreased from 4.07 × 10−7 to about 3.3 × 10−7 g m−1 h−1 Pa−1 after the modification, and all the films could completely disintegrate within 14 days. Moreover, the cookies preserved by the modified cellulose films for 100 days showed similar weight gain (∼1.2 %) and lower peroxide value (∼5.6 meq/kg) than the ones covered by commercial plastic wrap. Therefore, this study presents a promising approach to develop cellulose films with enhanced water resistance for food packaging applications.

Current approaches for utilization of resources in water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) sectors appear to be unsustainable and sub-optimal because of silo-based approaches that ignore interconnectedness across these interdependent sectors. A nexus approach that considers the interactions and interdependence among the sectors helps overcome weaknesses of silo-based approaches to better address synergies and trade-offs. This paper discusses the concept of the WEFE nexus-based approach for achieving water, energy, food, and environment security in India and presents a review of recent relevant literature. The paper critically reviews the key Indian government policies and programmes in the WEFE sector to assess the synergies and trade-offs among them. More than ˜ 40 programmes across WEFE sectors were studied to understand the efforts underway in these sectors to attain the respective policy goals. Although the implementation of the nexus concept will depend upon the enabling government policies and programmes, we find that discussions on these aspects are missing in the literature. Our review shows that the policies of different sectors give inadequate consideration to the impacts of decisions on the other related sectors. Although the various programmes are appreciably contributing to the policy goals and security for respective sectors, there are significant overlaps among the programmes which could positively or negatively impact other sector(s). There is a need to quantify the trade-offs by using an integrated approach including modeling with the WEFE nexus lens. The study also discusses the key challenges and barriers in implementing the nexus concept in India and how to overcome them.

As we embark on the 'fourth industrial revolution', digital innovation emerges as a promising solution to critical challenges in food production, consumption, and the supportive triad of food, land, and water systems. This potential is particularly pronounced in less industrialised, agrarian-based economies. Digital advancements promise enhanced communication, improved data management, democratic and transparent governance, accessible financial services, and decision-making support. Nevertheless, there are rising concerns about the risk of digital innovation bypassing individuals with scant education, scarce resources, native populations, and susceptible demographics such as women and young people, thus depriving them of its advantages. Additionally, the potential harms of digital technologies to these populations and society are worth considerable attention. This article addresses the concept of digital inclusivity within food, land, and water systems, emphasising the diverse needs of various groups, particularly those managing smallholder land holdings. We present evidence from peer-reviewed literature and other sources supporting the need for inclusive digital innovation. We introduce a comprehensive five-dimensional framework CAUSE (Consequences, Accessibility, Usefulness, Support, Enabling) with twenty-two indicators to foster digital inclusivity. Building on this framework, we propose a 'Digital Inclusivity Index' encompassing these multidimensional aspects. The paper argues for a broader 'digital ecosystem' perspective, where collaborative knowledge and resource sharing enhance digital innovation, extending beyond mere technology adoption to include shifts in existing social structures and institutions. Thus, the CAUSE framework helps in enabling wider access to digital innovation and has the useful consequence of increased support for its practical applications, enhancing its overall usefulness to society.

Current approaches for utilization of resources in water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) sectors appear to be unsustainable and sub-optimal because of silo-based approaches that ignore interconnectedness across these interdependent sectors. A nexus approach that considers the interactions and interdependence among the sectors helps overcome weaknesses of silo-based approaches to better address synergies and trade-offs. This paper discusses the concept of the WEFE nexus-based approach for achieving water, energy, food, and environment security in India and presents a review of recent relevant literature. The paper critically reviews the key Indian government policies and programmes in the WEFE sector to assess the synergies and trade-offs among them. More than ˜ 40 programmes across WEFE sectors were studied to understand the efforts underway in these sectors to attain the respective policy goals. Although the implementation of the nexus concept will depend upon the enabling government policies and programmes, we find that discussions on these aspects are missing in the literature. Our review shows that the policies of different sectors give inadequate consideration to the impacts of decisions on the other related sectors. Although the various programmes are appreciably contributing to the policy goals and security for respective sectors, there are significant overlaps among the programmes which could positively or negatively impact other sector(s). There is a need to quantify the trade-offs by using an integrated approach including modeling with the WEFE nexus lens. The study also discusses the key challenges and barriers in implementing the nexus concept in India and how to overcome them.

Abstract Objective: Water plays a critical role in the production of food and preparation of nutritious meals, yet few studies have examined the relationship between water and food insecurity. The primary objective of this study, therefore, was to examine how experiences of household water insecurity (HWI) relate to experiences of household food insecurity (HFI) among a pastoralist population living in an arid, water-stressed region of northern Kenya. Design: We implemented the twelve-item Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE, range 0–36) Scale and the nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS, range 0–27) in a cross-sectional survey to measure HWI and HFI, respectively. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and intake of meat and dairy in the prior week were collected as covariates of interest. Setting: Northern Kenya, June–July 2019. Participants: Daasanach pastoralist households (n 136) from seven communities. Results: In the prior 4 weeks, 93·4 % and 98·5 % of households had experienced moderate-to-severe HWI and HFI, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated a strong association between HWI and HFI. Each point higher HWISE score was associated with a 0·44-point (95 % CI: 0·22, 0·66, P = 0·003) higher HFIAS score adjusting for socio-economic status and other covariates. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate high prevalence and co-occurrence of HWI and HFI among Daasanach pastoralists in northern Kenya. This study highlights the need to address HWI and HFI simultaneously when developing policies and interventions to improve the nutritional well-being of populations whose subsistence is closely tied to water availability and access.

Currently metrics for assessing digital inclusivity focus on evaluating the outcomes of digital innovation rather than the process of developing such innovations. Digital inclusivity has five different dimensions, spanning both technical and social aspects, and therefore requires a holistic approach to attain. We propose a digital inclusivity index as a holistic and standard guideline for enabling digital inclusivity in food land and water systems. Since formal research and development is skewed towards the Global North, such an index may embody the perspectives and interests of organisations based in the Global North, and will therefore require testing, validation and co-development with stakeholders based in the Global South.

Irrigated wheat production is critical for food security in the Indus basin. Changing climatic and socio-economic conditions are expected to increase wheat demand and reduce irrigation water availability. Therefore, adaptation of irrigated wheat production is essential to achieve the interlinked Sustainable Development Goals for both water and food security. Here, we developed a spatial adaptation pathways methodology that integrates water and food objectives under future climate change and population growth. The results show that strategic combinations between production intensification, laser land leveling, and targeted expansion of irrigated areas can ensure wheat production increases and irrigation water savings in the short term. However, no adaptation pathways can ensure long-term wheat production within the existing irrigation water budget under rapid population growth. Adaptation planning for the Sustainable Development Goals in the Indus basin must therefore address both climatic and population changes, and anticipate that current food production practices may be unsustainable.