Frameworks:  Food Systems & FEW

Materials to Prep for Class

Readings:

• General Introduction to the Food Water Energy (FEW) Nexus

• One example FEW Nexus & Health

Class Activity:

Please come to class with a FEW Nexus case study where the nexus is being employed in a real live context to solve real problems.  My example was from a peer reviewed article and included disease, but you can feel free to bring one that is not peer reviewed.  Please come to class prepared to give a short synopsis of your case study as well as answer and ask questions.

Local Examples of FEW:

Green Cow Power Energy Center

Corn Ethanol in the Midwest

Summary of Required Reading:

The WEF (or FEW) Nexus Concept

The core idea of the WEF Nexus is that decisions made in one sector—water, energy, or food—inevitably impact the other two. This is because these resources are deeply interdependent. For instance, agriculture requires substantial amounts of water and energy, while energy production often relies on water resources and can impact food production through land use changes or pollution.

The text argues that a Nexus approach is essential for addressing the complex challenges of resource management in the face of growing populations, changing diets, urbanization, and climate change. It advocates for a more coordinated and integrated approach to decision-making that considers the trade-offs and synergies between different resource uses.

Real-Life Examples

The text provides several real-life examples to illustrate the power of the WEF Nexus in understanding and addressing food system challenges:

1. Groundwater Pumping in South Asia: The introduction of affordable groundwater pumps has boosted food production in countries like India and Pakistan. However, it has also led to groundwater depletion and increased vulnerability of farmers to energy price fluctuations. A Nexus approach would consider not only technical solutions like improving pump efficiency but also broader interventions such as water demand management, investment in surface irrigation, and agricultural policy reforms.

2. The Red River Basin in Vietnam: The Red River basin faces competing demands for water resources between hydropower generation and agricultural irrigation. A Nexus approach would involve developing effective cross-sectoral consultation mechanisms and making water allocation decisions based on an integrated, long-term strategy.

3. The Aral Sea Basin: The Aral Sea basin faces complex challenges related to water scarcity, environmental degradation, and competing demands for water, energy, and food. The FAO, in collaboration with other organizations, adopted a scenario-thinking approach to develop a shared vision for sustainable development in the basin. This approach helped to foster a more comprehensive understanding of the WEF Nexus in the region and encouraged a participatory approach to decision-making.

4. The Senegal River Basin - extended case study:  The construction of dams in the SRB, primarily for hydropower generation and irrigation, led to unintended health consequences, particularly an increase in schistosomiasis transmission. This situation underscores the interconnectedness of water, energy, and food systems and how interventions in one sector can have ripple effects on others, including human health.  The research reveals a disconnect between policy intent and on-the-ground implementation. While health is acknowledged as a priority in policy documents, it is often sidelined in operational decisions, where energy and agricultural needs dominate. This mirrors the FAO's observation that a Nexus approach is often hindered by sectoral silos and a lack of integrated decision-making. Here are some key takeaways in the context of the WEF Nexus:  

• Trade-offs and Synergies: The SRB case study exemplifies the trade-offs between resource sectors. While dams provide energy and support food production, they also create conditions conducive to disease transmission. A Nexus approach would necessitate a careful balancing of these trade-offs, seeking synergies where possible and minimizing negative health impacts.

• Policy-Practice Gap: The disconnect between policy aspirations and operational realities in the SRB highlights the challenges of translating Nexus thinking into action. It underscores the need for stronger institutional coordination and mechanisms to ensure that health considerations are not just acknowledged but actively integrated into resource management decisions.

• Health as an Integral Component: The persistence of schistosomiasis in the SRB despite treatment campaigns emphasizes the importance of addressing health proactively, not just as an afterthought. It reinforces the FAO's call for a 'people-centric' approach that places human well-being, including health, at the heart of resource management strategies.

Overall the WEF Nexus offers a powerful framework for understanding and addressing the complex challenges facing our food systems. By recognizing the interdependencies between water, energy, and food, it encourages a more holistic and integrated approach to decision-making that can lead to more sustainable and equitable outcomes. For university students studying food systems, understanding the WEF Nexus is crucial for developing innovative solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.