p. 213-255 | Food security and water security in the Mediterranean are intrinsically linked and are facing similar challenges. Food security is threatened mainly by the high dependency of Mediterranean countries on food imports, making them vulnerable to external pressures such as volatile food prices. From a nutritional standpoint, the number of overweight and obese people has increased as a result of the traditional Mediterranean diet being abandoned. Water security has degenerated due to the deterioration of internal freshwater resources, both in terms of water quantity and quality, with a high dependency on external water resources, higher regional water footprints than the global average, increasing scarcity of renewable water resources, an increased number and capacity of dams exerting pressure on freshwater ecosystems, and a growing risk of conflicts between water users and countries. Access to water and sanitation remains a major challenge in the region. Territorial divisions separating coastal urban and remote rural areas are growing stronger, making isolated populations such as smallholder farmers particularly at risk of food and water insecurity. With climate change, precipitation is expected to decrease and temperatures to rise in the region, which will affect water supply (and thereby energy and food supply). It will also directly affect soil moisture and crop growth, thereby further increasing irrigation water needs. There are clear but difficult to measure interactions between the water, energy and agricultural sectors, as they are all interdependent, which calls for integrated policies and management. Agriculture being the largest water user in the region, further efforts need to be made to promote the use of non-conventional water resources. The conservation and restoration of Mediterranean agroecosystems is key to ensuring sustainable development. This requires better management of continuing arable land loss, land use intensification, and soil erosion and salinization. Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Demand Management (WDM) provide guidelines for achieving better water efficiency and reducing conflicts between users.

PR | IFPRI3; CRP5; ISI | EPTD | CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)

CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) | Bhaduri Anik et al., 'Sustainability in the water–energy–food nexus', Water International 40, IFPRI, 2015

van Koppen Barbara, 'Empowering women to achieve food security: Water rights', , IFPRI, 2001 | IFPRI1; Gender; 2020

Non-PR | IFPRI1; Gender; 2020 | DGO

If a decision is made at the national level to increase the share of bioenergy, what implications does this have for water, land and energy? How do electricity subsidies contribute to groundwater depletion and what can be done about it? How can we ensure that sectoral policies and strategies consider the potential trade-offs for other sectors? Finding answers to these questions is the main challenge of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. By describing the complex and interrelated nature of our global resource systems, the Nexus approach helps us to better understand and systematically analyze how we can use and manage our resources in light of different, often competing interests and goals.

Sustainable and integrated management of water, energy, food, and ecosystems requires a coordinated and cross-sectoral approach to manage trade-offs and maximize synergies among these deeply interconnected resources. This line of action is called the water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) nexus approach. This 5-day course provides an overview of WEFE nexus concepts, issues, and approaches to develop the capacities of early- to mid-career professionals in any WEFE or WEFE-adjacent sector, to foster the integrated, equitable, and sustainable management of WEFE resources. This course was co-developed under the umbrella of the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains by the Center for Water Resources Studies (CWRS), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, in partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity international and CIAT, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). It includes theory as well as practical applications and interactive elements.

Sustainable and integrated management of water, energy, food, and ecosystems requires a coordinated and cross-sectoral approach to manage trade-offs and maximize synergies among these deeply interconnected resources. This line of thinking and action is called the water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) nexus approach. This academic course provides an overview of WEFE nexus concepts, issues, and approaches to develop the capacities of graduate students studying in any WEFE or WEFE-adjacent sector. The aim is to prepare future leaders in this area to foster the integrated, equitable, and sustainable management of WEFE resources. This course was co-developed under the umbrella of the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains by the Center for Water Resources Studies (CWRS), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, in partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). It includes theory as well as practical applications and interactive elements.