Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management
There is an increasing appreciation that food–energy–water (FEW) nexus problems are approaching criticality in both the developing and developed world. As researchers and managers attempt to address these complex resource management issues, the concept of the FEW nexus has generated a rapidly growin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/4/972 |
| _version_ | 1797571854524743680 |
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| author | Stephen L. Katz Julie C. Padowski Michael Goldsby Michael P. Brady Stephanie E. Hampton |
| author_facet | Stephen L. Katz Julie C. Padowski Michael Goldsby Michael P. Brady Stephanie E. Hampton |
| author_sort | Stephen L. Katz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is an increasing appreciation that food–energy–water (FEW) nexus problems are approaching criticality in both the developing and developed world. As researchers and managers attempt to address these complex resource management issues, the concept of the FEW nexus has generated a rapidly growing footprint in global sustainability discourse. However, this momentum in the FEW nexus space could be better guided if researchers could more clearly identify what is and is not a FEW problem. Without this conceptual clarity, it can be difficult to defend the position that FEW innovations will produce desired outcomes and avoid unintended consequences. Here we examine the growing FEW nexus scholarship to critically evaluate what features are necessary to define a FEW nexus. This analysis suggests that the FEW nexus differs from sector-focused natural resource or sustainability problems in both complexity and stakes. It also motivates two new foci for research: the identification of low-dimension indexes of FEW system status and approaches for identifying boundaries of specific FEW nexuses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:47:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18583de053c2490ca9604f50a1a6e271 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:47:34Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-18583de053c2490ca9604f50a1a6e2712023-11-19T20:11:22ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-03-0112497210.3390/w12040972Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water ManagementStephen L. Katz0Julie C. Padowski1Michael Goldsby2Michael P. Brady3Stephanie E. Hampton4School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USAState of Washington Water Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USASchool of Politics, Philosophy, & Public Affairs, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USASchool of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USACenter for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USAThere is an increasing appreciation that food–energy–water (FEW) nexus problems are approaching criticality in both the developing and developed world. As researchers and managers attempt to address these complex resource management issues, the concept of the FEW nexus has generated a rapidly growing footprint in global sustainability discourse. However, this momentum in the FEW nexus space could be better guided if researchers could more clearly identify what is and is not a FEW problem. Without this conceptual clarity, it can be difficult to defend the position that FEW innovations will produce desired outcomes and avoid unintended consequences. Here we examine the growing FEW nexus scholarship to critically evaluate what features are necessary to define a FEW nexus. This analysis suggests that the FEW nexus differs from sector-focused natural resource or sustainability problems in both complexity and stakes. It also motivates two new foci for research: the identification of low-dimension indexes of FEW system status and approaches for identifying boundaries of specific FEW nexuses.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/4/972food–energy–water nexussustainabilityfood securitywater securitynatural resource management |
| spellingShingle | Stephen L. Katz Julie C. Padowski Michael Goldsby Michael P. Brady Stephanie E. Hampton Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management Water food–energy–water nexus sustainability food security water security natural resource management |
| title | Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management |
| title_full | Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management |
| title_fullStr | Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management |
| title_short | Defining the Nature of the Nexus: Specialization, Connectedness, Scarcity, and Scale in Food–Energy–Water Management |
| title_sort | defining the nature of the nexus specialization connectedness scarcity and scale in food energy water management |
| topic | food–energy–water nexus sustainability food security water security natural resource management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/4/972 |
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