Applying the FEW nexus concept at the local scale

Abstract

The food-energy-water (FEW) nexus describes interactions among domains that yield gains or tradeoffs when analyzed together rather than independently. In a project about renewable energy in rural Alaska communities, we applied this concept to examine the implications for sustainability and resilience. The FEW nexus provided a useful framework for identifying the cross-domain benefits of renewable energy, including gains in FEW security. However, other factors such as transportation and governance also play a major role in determining FEW security outcomes in rural Alaska. Here we show the implications of our findings for theory and practice. The precise configurations of and relationships among FEW nexus components vary by place and time, and the range of factors involved further complicates the ability to develop a functional, systematic FEW model. Instead, we suggest how the FEW nexus may be applied conceptually to identify and understand cross-domain interactions that contribute to long-term sustainability and resilience.

Reducing environmental impacts through socioeconomic transitions: critical review and prospects

“…The interdependencies among food, energy, and water systems are regarded as core sustainable development issues, and these three systems interconnect with each other directly and indirectly (Fuso Nerini et al, 2018). Consequently, the food-energy-water nexus has become a focal point for interdisciplinary studies (Huntington et al, 2021). Some studies quantified direct food-energy-water linkages within a specific region based on material flow analysis from the production perspective (Liang et al, 2019).…”