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Trends in the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Research

Author

Listed:
  • Ali Rhouma

    (PRIMA, Nexus 2 Building, C/Jordi Girona 29, Second Floor 2A, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Jerome El Jeitany

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), Univpersità degli Studi di Firenze, Via di S. Marta 3, 50139 Firenze, Italy
    Landscape Ecology and Environmental Systems Analysis, Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamper Street 19c, 38092 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Rabi Mohtar

    (Biological and Agricultural Engineering and Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Energy Institute Texas A&M University, 306 Scoates Hall, Mail Stop 2117, College Station, TX 77843-2117, USA
    Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon)

  • José Maria Gil

    (Centre de Recerca en Economia i Desenvolupament Agroalimentari, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the scientific evolution and research trends concerning the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus, as well as its development within scientific databases. To achieve this, a bibliometric analysis has been conducted using publications sourced from Scopus and Web of science databases. This study examined key aspects such as primary journals, prominent authors, affiliated institutions, countries of origin, subject areas, and notable keywords. Furthermore, there is a dedicated section that delves into research and innovation gaps within publications related to the WEF nexus. Results reveal that research on the WEF nexus has experienced exponential growth over the past decade, with the majority of publications emerging between 2017 and 2023. The United States leads in this field, with engineering and environmental science being the predominant research categories, with Spain and Italy being the prominent countries in Europe. The WEF nexus concept in the agriculture sector is notably underdeveloped, particularly in its ties with the Sustainable Development Goals and the science–policy–society interface. The study stresses the importance of integrating health considerations into the WEF Nexus to understand the interconnections and their implications on public health, thereby enriching the Nexus approach with a critical dimension of human well-being. This situation underscores the urgent need to create a nexus community that bridges science and practice, and to incorporate this specialized discipline into university curricula.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Rhouma & Jerome El Jeitany & Rabi Mohtar & José Maria Gil, 2024. "Trends in the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1162-:d:1329514
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Víctor Correa-Porcel & Laura Piedra-Muñoz & Emilio Galdeano-Gómez, 2021. "Water–Energy–Food Nexus in the Agri-Food Sector: Research Trends and Innovating Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-31, December.
    2. Elliot Noma, 1984. "Co‐citation analysis and the invisible college," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 35(1), pages 29-33, January.
    3. S. Phineas Upham & Henry Small, 2010. "Emerging research fronts in science and technology: patterns of new knowledge development," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(1), pages 15-38, April.
    4. Somayeh Rezaei Kalvani & Fulvio Celico, 2023. "The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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