Food production requires energy in terms of machinery & fertilizer
Food processing requires energy
Food production impacts on water availability through over irrigation & groundwater extraction
Pastoral and arable food production needs clean water
Water infrastructure & use impacts on fish stocks
Water infrastructure impacts on land use
Food distribution requires energy, often referred to as 'Food Miles'
Meat-rich diets will require far more land than the traditional diets they will replace.
Food production impacts on water quality through agro-chemical runoff & salinization
More than 70% of the world's freshwater use is in agriculture.
By 2030 it is predicted that we will require 30% more freshwater
Water is key in terms of demand, assets and supply.
By 2030 it is predicted that we will require 50% more food
3 billion more middle-class people will demand more meat
Food is key in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Water infrastructure & use impacts on food supplies
Much of the population growth and the middle-class growth will occur in countries that are already water-scarce.
In the 1990's, we were worried by water scarcity.
2030 will see a Middle Class numbering 5 billion
2017 sees 2 billion people worldwide in the Middle Class
Our world connects people, landscapes and ecosystems.
There are important linkages between water, food, energy and climate change.
Energy is key in terms of demand, assets and supply.
Energy production impacts on water availability
Clean water supply requires energy for treatment, pumping & distribution as well as for biofuel growth.
By 2030, total world population is predicted to be 8.5 billion people.
In the 2000's we were worried by soil degradation.
Climate change is key in terms of its effects on food, energy and water
Nexus is a response to the global crisis that hit energy and food demands in 2007 and 2008.
Energy production needs water e.g. nuclear cooling
Energy production impacts on water quality e.g. pollution of groundwater supplies.
Biofuels production impacts on food supply.
In the 1980's, we were worried by deforestation & the hole in the Ozone layer.
These decade 'worry trends' were always single issues, now the move is towards nexus thinking
In the 1970's, we were worried by oil running out
Fossil fuel extraction impacts on food supply and food prices
Climate change means that rainfall & water availability are likely to become more uncertain.
Locally you can see examples of French supermarkets stocking seasonal produce to reduce energy and water footprints.
Nexus can be approached from the perspective of sustainability & interrelationship between the environment, society & economy.
Large areas of Garonne valley are now classed as ‘Bio’ in an attempt to reduce agro chemical runoff & eutrophication.
France’s Bio (organic) industry has its HQ in L’Isle Jourdain (SW France). They promote organically grown foodstuffs
