6
to non- scientific stakeholders will likely transform Nexus studies over the coming
decades. Indeed, the authors of this book and many others devote their time to this
area in large part because they are optimistic that their work will lead to positive
outcomes and innovative solutions. We hope that the readers of this book will
reach a similar conclusion, and, perhaps, will be at least tempted to join in the
ongoing process.
This book attempts to provide the reader with a survey of issues, methods, and
tools that reflects best practices in nexus work at the time of writing and looks ahead
to what the authors believe will be important in the future.
Note that issues of scale will arise throughout this book and be explored in detail
in Chap. 15. Most generally we will use (with many important caveats) the following terms to describe phenomena at different scales:
• “Micro” for small, fine, or local scales;
• “Meso” for intermediate or regional scales;
• “Macro” for large, national, international, or global scales.
1.3 Why Food, Energy, and Water?
1.3.1 Criteria
Nexus studies recognize the importance of integrating FEW systems based upon
approximately five criteria that are interwoven with each other. Food, energy, and
water are critical consumable commodities, require massive infrastructure, are currently footprint-heavy, must be extremely accessible and affordable, and are the
focus of high-level decision-making and policy. We study and manage FEW systems, rather than other parts of the FEW-everything (FEWe) system, because FEW
systems usually, and uniquely, meet most or all of these five criteria.
1.3.1.1 Criterion 1: Critical Consumable Commodities for Human Life
Human beings require a continuous supply of food and water to consume to live and
energy to support most aspects of comfortable living. Food, energy, and water are
essential commodities for human life level and require constant replenishment.
These commodities are essential in both sufficient quantity and quality (i.e., food
nutrition, energy in useful forms, and clean water).
The phrase “society is only three meals away from anarchy” (sometimes “nine
meals” or “from revolution”) captures the critical need for food. The human body
can survive without water for 2–3 days, without food for perhaps 30–40 days. In
large cities, the human economy and society are less resilient. Energy sustains water
and food supplies and multiple additional life-dependent aspects of human societies. As is all too frequently demonstrated during electricity blackouts, communities
P. Saundry and B. L. Ruddell
to non- scientific stakeholders will likely transform Nexus studies over the coming
decades. Indeed, the authors of this book and many others devote their time to this
area in large part because they are optimistic that their work will lead to positive
outcomes and innovative solutions. We hope that the readers of this book will
reach a similar conclusion, and, perhaps, will be at least tempted to join in the
ongoing process.
This book attempts to provide the reader with a survey of issues, methods, and
tools that reflects best practices in nexus work at the time of writing and looks ahead
to what the authors believe will be important in the future.
Note that issues of scale will arise throughout this book and be explored in detail
in Chap. 15. Most generally we will use (with many important caveats) the following terms to describe phenomena at different scales:
• “Micro” for small, fine, or local scales;
• “Meso” for intermediate or regional scales;
• “Macro” for large, national, international, or global scales.
1.3 Why Food, Energy, and Water?
1.3.1 Criteria
Nexus studies recognize the importance of integrating FEW systems based upon
approximately five criteria that are interwoven with each other. Food, energy, and
water are critical consumable commodities, require massive infrastructure, are currently footprint-heavy, must be extremely accessible and affordable, and are the
focus of high-level decision-making and policy. We study and manage FEW systems, rather than other parts of the FEW-everything (FEWe) system, because FEW
systems usually, and uniquely, meet most or all of these five criteria.
1.3.1.1 Criterion 1: Critical Consumable Commodities for Human Life
Human beings require a continuous supply of food and water to consume to live and
energy to support most aspects of comfortable living. Food, energy, and water are
essential commodities for human life level and require constant replenishment.
These commodities are essential in both sufficient quantity and quality (i.e., food
nutrition, energy in useful forms, and clean water).
The phrase “society is only three meals away from anarchy” (sometimes “nine
meals” or “from revolution”) captures the critical need for food. The human body
can survive without water for 2–3 days, without food for perhaps 30–40 days. In
large cities, the human economy and society are less resilient. Energy sustains water
and food supplies and multiple additional life-dependent aspects of human societies. As is all too frequently demonstrated during electricity blackouts, communities
P. Saundry and B. L. Ruddell