Addressing complex interactions within water, energy, and food (WEF) resources, innovative tools for in-depth analysis and decision-making are imperative. This study introduces chorematic focus maps (CFMs) as a groundbreaking method to visualize and tackle the WEF nexus&rsquo:s complexities, focusing specifically on the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR). By merging geospatial analysis with on-site validation, this research reveals intricate interdependencies within the nexus and positions CFMs as an effective tool for stakeholders. This study adopts a methodological approach that focuses on identifying human activities and evaluating their impacts on the WEF nexus, with the goal of developing practical and grounded strategies for managing these essential resources. By testing this approach within the DDBR, the potential for wider application is demonstrated, offering a promising framework for addressing similar socio-environmental challenges across various regions. Future research directions include refining CFMs&rsquo: precision and practicality through extended fieldwork and stakeholder engagement, testing the framework&rsquo:s adaptability across various locations and nexus dynamics. Additionally, incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning could provide deeper insights and reinforce CFMs&rsquo: role in decision support for the WEF nexus. Conclusively, this investigation into the WEF nexus through CFMs emphasizes the critical need for strategies that navigate the complexities of environmental management and resource optimization, marking CFMs as a significant tool for both decision-makers and researchers.

Addressing complex interactions within water, energy, and food (WEF) resources, innovative tools for in-depth analysis and decision-making are imperative. This study introduces chorematic focus maps (CFMs) as a groundbreaking method to visualize and tackle the WEF nexus’s complexities, focusing specifically on the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR). By merging geospatial analysis with on-site validation, this research reveals intricate interdependencies within the nexus and positions CFMs as an effective tool for stakeholders. This study adopts a methodological approach that focuses on identifying human activities and evaluating their impacts on the WEF nexus, with the goal of developing practical and grounded strategies for managing these essential resources. By testing this approach within the DDBR, the potential for wider application is demonstrated, offering a promising framework for addressing similar socio-environmental challenges across various regions. Future research directions include refining CFMs’ precision and practicality through extended fieldwork and stakeholder engagement, testing the framework’s adaptability across various locations and nexus dynamics. Additionally, incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning could provide deeper insights and reinforce CFMs’ role in decision support for the WEF nexus. Conclusively, this investigation into the WEF nexus through CFMs emphasizes the critical need for strategies that navigate the complexities of environmental management and resource optimization, marking CFMs as a significant tool for both decision-makers and researchers.

Social-ecological interactions mediate water&ndash:energy&ndash:food security in small developing islands, but community-scale insights are underrepresented in nexus research. These interactions are dynamic in their response to environmental and anthropogenic pressures and need to be understood to inform sustainable land use planning into the future. This study centered on bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore water&ndash:energy&ndash:food futures using the &ldquo:Kesho&rdquo: (meaning &ldquo:tomorrow&rdquo: in Kiswahili) scenario tool for two of the largest islands that comprise the Zanzibar Archipelago. The methodology comprised four core stages: (1) exploration of how past drivers of change impacted water&ndash:energy&ndash:food security: (2) modeling of a Business as Usual Scenario for land cover change: (3) narrative development to describe alternative futures for 2030 based on themes developed at the community scale: and (4) predictions about how narratives would shape land cover and its implications for the nexus. These results were used to model alternate land cover scenarios in TerrSet IDRISI (v. 18.31) and produce visual representations of expected change. Findings demonstrated that deforestation, saltwater incursion, and a reduction in permanent waterbodies were projected by 2030 in a Business as Usual Scenario. Three alternative scenario narratives were developed, these included Adaptation, Ecosystem Management, and Settlement Planning. The results demonstrate that the effectiveness of actions under the scenario options differ between the islands, indicating the importance of understanding the suitability of national policies across considered scales. Synergies across the alternative scenario narratives also emerged, including integrated approaches for managing environmental change, community participation in decision making, effective protection of forests, cultural sensitivity to settlement planning, and poverty alleviation. These synergies could be used to plan strategic action towards effectively strengthening water&ndash:energy&ndash:food security in Zanzibar.

Social-ecological interactions mediate water–energy–food security in small developing islands, but community-scale insights are underrepresented in nexus research. These interactions are dynamic in their response to environmental and anthropogenic pressures and need to be understood to inform sustainable land use planning into the future. This study centered on bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore water–energy–food futures using the “<i>Kesho</i>” (meaning “tomorrow” in Kiswahili) scenario tool for two of the largest islands that comprise the Zanzibar Archipelago. The methodology comprised four core stages: (1) exploration of how past drivers of change impacted water–energy–food security; (2) modeling of a <i>Business as Usual Scenario</i> for land cover change; (3) narrative development to describe alternative futures for 2030 based on themes developed at the community scale; and (4) predictions about how narratives would shape land cover and its implications for the nexus. These results were used to model alternate land cover scenarios in TerrSet IDRISI (v. 18.31) and produce visual representations of expected change. Findings demonstrated that deforestation, saltwater incursion, and a reduction in permanent waterbodies were projected by 2030 in a <i>Business as Usual Scenario</i>. Three alternative scenario narratives were developed, these included <i>Adaptation, Ecosystem Management</i>, and <i>Settlement Planning</i>. The results demonstrate that the effectiveness of actions under the scenario options differ between the islands, indicating the importance of understanding the suitability of national policies across considered scales. Synergies across the alternative scenario narratives also emerged, including integrated approaches for managing environmental change, community participation in decision making, effective protection of forests, cultural sensitivity to settlement planning, and poverty alleviation. These synergies could be used to plan strategic action towards effectively strengthening water–energy–food security in Zanzibar.

Building policy coherence is significant in governing natural resources, especially in a changing climate and growing population. Designing and implementing coherent climate-adaptive water productivity policies through holistic and integrated knowledge could manage the growing demand for food and water, and sustain small-scale farmers' livelihoods and economies, which is the aim of this research. This study focuses on the analysis of power dynamics and the social network that evolves around the control of information and technical assistance that shape policy narratives. Results showed that donors and financial institutions are the primary powers to control and organize knowledge and technical assistance linked to soil-water conservation especially when it’s combined with mobilizing relevant funds. Many smallholder farmers still adopt traditional patterns of cultivation due to the siloed knowledge gaps in the extension services of governmental entities, the unreachability of extension services, the lack of trust in their guidance, and the absence of innovations’ scalability. Building integrated extension services between ministries, by providing equal and suitable financial packages. This would be feasible by managing the coordination with financial institutions, monetary and nonmonetary incentives, and building on existing farmers’ collective organizations and farmers’ pioneers to enable a sociological transition to water productivity.

Building policy coherence is significant in governing natural resources, especially in a changing climate and growing population. Designing and implementing coherent climate-adaptive water productivity policies through holistic and integrated knowledge could manage the growing demand for food and water, and sustain small-scale farmers’ livelihoods and economies, which is the aim of this research. This study focuses on the analysis of power dynamics and the social network that evolves around the control of information and technical assistance that shape policy narratives. Results showed that donors and financial institutions are the primary powers to control and organize knowledge and technical assistance linked to soil-water conservation especially when it’s combined with mobilizing relevant funds. Many smallholder farmers still adopt traditional patterns of cultivation due to the siloed knowledge gaps in the extension services of governmental entities, the unreachability of extension services, the lack of trust in their guidance, and the absence of innovations’ scalability. Building integrated extension services between ministries, by providing equal and suitable financial packages. This would be feasible by managing the coordination with financial institutions, monetary and non-monetary incentives, and building on existing farmers’ collective organizations and farmers’ pioneers to enable a sociological transition to water productivity.

The growing demand for sustainable and healthy practices has led to an increased interest in the electrolyzed water (EW) application. This technology has garnered widespread acceptance as a sanitizer within the food industry. It also enhances the nutritional, functional, and sensory properties of food products to improve quality and safety. This review undertakes a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in electrolysis technology, exploring its applications in fruits and meat industry and its impact on nutritional, functional, microbiological, safety, and sensory characteristics. It is concluded that the EW should be considered an essential component of industrial equipment sanitization and food product decontamination by offering antimicrobial benefits and promoting functional component accumulation. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of EW can be compromised by the presence of organic matter and equipment corrosion. Furthermore, it provides a concise overview of EW generation, elucidates the influential factors governing its production, and delineates prospective directions for research and development in this field.

The growing demand for sustainable and healthy practices has led to an increased interest in the electrolyzed water (EW) application. This technology has garnered widespread acceptance as a sanitizer within the food industry. It also enhances the nutritional, functional, and sensory properties of food products to improve quality and safety. This review undertakes a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in electrolysis technology, exploring its applications in fruits and meat industry and its impact on nutritional, functional, microbiological, safety, and sensory characteristics. It is concluded that the EW should be considered an essential component of industrial equipment sanitization and food product decontamination by offering antimicrobial benefits and promoting functional component accumulation. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of EW can be compromised by the presence of organic matter and equipment corrosion. Furthermore, it provides a concise overview of EW generation, elucidates the influential factors governing its production, and delineates prospective directions for research and development in this field.

The Danjiangkou Reservoir is the water source of the middle route of China&rsquo:s South-to-North Water Diversion Project, encompassing the Dan Reservoir and Han Reservoir. However, little is known about the ecological functions of this important ecosystem. Based on a survey conducted in 2023 in the Dan Reservoir, a mass balance model was constructed using Ecopath with Ecosim 6.6 software to characterize its food web structure and ecosystem properties. The model consisted of 18 functional groups, including producers, consumers, and detritus, covering the entire process of energy flow in the ecosystem. The outputs indicated that the fractional trophic level of functional groups in the Dan Reservoir ecosystem ranged from 1.00 to 3.50. The ecotrophic efficiencies of the main economic fish species were all less than 0.9, and the ecotrophic efficiencies of phytoplankton and detritus were less than 0.5. There were two main food chains: the detritus food chain (39%) and the grazing food chain (61%). The total energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels was only 6.02%, and there was a significant phenomenon of energy transfer blockage between trophic levels II and V. Analysis of the overall characteristics of the ecosystem revealed that the total primary production to total biomass (67.96619), connectance index (0.274), and Finn&rsquo:s cycling index (2.856) of the Dan Reservoir ecosystem all indicate that the ecosystem is immature, with low nutrient recycling efficiency and poor resistance to external disturbances. This may be related to the low proportion of silver carp and bighead carp in the reservoir and the unreasonable structure of the fish community. Our results suggest that it is necessary to scientifically adjust the structure of the fish community, enhance the proportion of filter-feeding and omnivorous fish to improve the energy flow efficiency, and promote the maturity and stability of the Dan Reservoir.

The Danjiangkou Reservoir is the water source of the middle route of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project, encompassing the Dan Reservoir and Han Reservoir. However, little is known about the ecological functions of this important ecosystem. Based on a survey conducted in 2023 in the Dan Reservoir, a mass balance model was constructed using Ecopath with Ecosim 6.6 software to characterize its food web structure and ecosystem properties. The model consisted of 18 functional groups, including producers, consumers, and detritus, covering the entire process of energy flow in the ecosystem. The outputs indicated that the fractional trophic level of functional groups in the Dan Reservoir ecosystem ranged from 1.00 to 3.50. The ecotrophic efficiencies of the main economic fish species were all less than 0.9, and the ecotrophic efficiencies of phytoplankton and detritus were less than 0.5. There were two main food chains: the detritus food chain (39%) and the grazing food chain (61%). The total energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels was only 6.02%, and there was a significant phenomenon of energy transfer blockage between trophic levels II and V. Analysis of the overall characteristics of the ecosystem revealed that the total primary production to total biomass (67.96619), connectance index (0.274), and Finn’s cycling index (2.856) of the Dan Reservoir ecosystem all indicate that the ecosystem is immature, with low nutrient recycling efficiency and poor resistance to external disturbances. This may be related to the low proportion of silver carp and bighead carp in the reservoir and the unreasonable structure of the fish community. Our results suggest that it is necessary to scientifically adjust the structure of the fish community, enhance the proportion of filter-feeding and omnivorous fish to improve the energy flow efficiency, and promote the maturity and stability of the Dan Reservoir.