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Opportunities for improved promotion of ecosystem services in agriculture under the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Bell

    (New York University)

  • Nathanial Matthews

    (The CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems, CGIAR)

  • Wei Zhang

    (International Food Policy Research Institute)

Abstract

In this study, we focus on water quality as a vehicle to illustrate the role that the water, energy, and food (WEF) Nexus perspective may have in promoting ecosystem services in agriculture. The mediation of water quality by terrestrial systems is a key ecosystem service for a range of actors (municipalities, fishers, industries, and energy providers) and is reshaped radically by agricultural activity. To address these impacts, many programs exist to promote improved land-use practices in agriculture; however, where these practices incur a cost or other burden to the farmer, adoption can be low unless some form of incentive is provided (as in a payment for ecosystem services (PES) program). Provision of such incentives can be a challenge to sustain in the long term, if there is not a clear beneficiary or other actor willing to provide them. Successfully closing the loop between impacts and incentives often requires identifying a measurable and valuable service with a clear central beneficiary that is impacted by the summative effects of the diffuse agricultural practices across the landscape. Drawing on cases from our own research, we demonstrate how the WEF Nexus perspective—by integrating non-point-source agricultural problems under well-defined energy issues—can highlight central beneficiaries of improved agricultural practice, where none may have existed otherwise.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Bell & Nathanial Matthews & Wei Zhang, 2016. "Opportunities for improved promotion of ecosystem services in agriculture under the Water-Energy-Food Nexus," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(1), pages 183-191, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:6:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s13412-016-0366-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-016-0366-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Adenike K. Opejin & Rimjhim M. Aggarwal & Dave D. White & J. Leah Jones & Ross Maciejewski & Giuseppe Mascaro & Hessam S. Sarjoughian, 2020. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Food-Energy-Water Nexus Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Khaleel Muhammed & Aavudai Anandhi & Gang Chen & Kevin Poole, 2021. "Define–Investigate–Estimate–Map (DIEM) Framework for Modeling Habitat Threats," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-30, October.
    4. Muenich, Rebecca Logsdon & Chaubey, Indrajeet & Pyron, Mark, 2016. "Evaluating potential water quality drivers of a fish regime shift in the Wabash River using the SWAT model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 340(C), pages 116-125.
    5. van den Heuvel, Lotte & Blicharska, Malgorzata & Masia, Sara & Sušnik, Janez & Teutschbein, Claudia, 2020. "Ecosystem services in the Swedish water-energy-food-land-climate nexus: Anthropogenic pressures and physical interactions," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    6. Inas El-Gafy & Defne Apul, 2021. "Expanding the Dynamic Modeling of Water-Food-Energy Nexus to Include Environmental, Economic, and Social Aspects Based on Life Cycle Assessment Thinking," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(13), pages 4349-4362, October.
    7. Aries Purwanto & Janez Sušnik & Franciscus X. Suryadi & Charlotte de Fraiture, 2021. "Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Critical Review, Practical Applications, and Prospects for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.

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