Energy, Water, Food Nexus Decision-Making for Sustainable …
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[46]. As for the international food trade, the food–water relationship is manifested
by the concept of virtual water. It is defined as the water embodied in the food products and includes water required during production along with the water consumed
throughout the supply chain [47]. Ye et al. proposed a novel multi-objective optimisation model that introduces the virtual water contained in five major crops as part
of the allocation of water resources along with physical water. The model suggested
generates the water distribution amongst different urban activities, including agriculture, the environment and the industry considering economic and environmental
tradeoffs [48].
3.3 Energy and Food
The food sector requires water resources as the main component to grow crops and
raise livestock. However, all the processes adopted to extract, treat, or desalinate
water necessitate energy in the form of electricity. In addition, fertilisers, which are
an essential source of nutrients to cultivate crops, are also dependent on electricity
for their production [8]. This strong bond between the energy and water sector was
the focus of many nexus studies. From an economic perspective, Taghizadeh-Hesary
et al. investigated the impact of energy prices on food prices. Findings demonstrate a
strong correlation between the prices of the two commodities, such that any volatility
or inflation in oil prices can induce a significant variation in the food prices, hence
threatening the economic stability of the food sector [7]. With rising concerns over
climate change and the emergence of climate-positive actions to reduce the environmental impact associated with human activities, new eco-friendly technologies
are deployed as part of the food–energy nexus as a form of mitigation. In fact,
Haltas et al. proposed an alternative energy system based on anaerobic digestion as
means to reduce the environmental burden engendered by conventional power used
to produce electricity for cultivation and production of fertilisers [49]. Ghiat et al.
studied a biomass-based energy system for the generation of power using a clean
and efficient process analogous to the concept of bioenergy with carbon capture and
storage (BECCS). A biomass-based gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) coupled
with carbon capture was modelled and simulated using Aspen Plus software in efforts
to study the technical performance of the system and optimise the energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the integrated system. In addition, the economic and environmental performance of the hybrid system was investigated with findings indicating
negative emission levels for the proposed system. This study demonstrated an important energy–food opportunity that can be harnessed to reach negative CO 2 emissions
and mitigate climate change [50, 51].
199
[46]. As for the international food trade, the food–water relationship is manifested
by the concept of virtual water. It is defined as the water embodied in the food products and includes water required during production along with the water consumed
throughout the supply chain [47]. Ye et al. proposed a novel multi-objective optimisation model that introduces the virtual water contained in five major crops as part
of the allocation of water resources along with physical water. The model suggested
generates the water distribution amongst different urban activities, including agriculture, the environment and the industry considering economic and environmental
tradeoffs [48].
3.3 Energy and Food
The food sector requires water resources as the main component to grow crops and
raise livestock. However, all the processes adopted to extract, treat, or desalinate
water necessitate energy in the form of electricity. In addition, fertilisers, which are
an essential source of nutrients to cultivate crops, are also dependent on electricity
for their production [8]. This strong bond between the energy and water sector was
the focus of many nexus studies. From an economic perspective, Taghizadeh-Hesary
et al. investigated the impact of energy prices on food prices. Findings demonstrate a
strong correlation between the prices of the two commodities, such that any volatility
or inflation in oil prices can induce a significant variation in the food prices, hence
threatening the economic stability of the food sector [7]. With rising concerns over
climate change and the emergence of climate-positive actions to reduce the environmental impact associated with human activities, new eco-friendly technologies
are deployed as part of the food–energy nexus as a form of mitigation. In fact,
Haltas et al. proposed an alternative energy system based on anaerobic digestion as
means to reduce the environmental burden engendered by conventional power used
to produce electricity for cultivation and production of fertilisers [49]. Ghiat et al.
studied a biomass-based energy system for the generation of power using a clean
and efficient process analogous to the concept of bioenergy with carbon capture and
storage (BECCS). A biomass-based gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) coupled
with carbon capture was modelled and simulated using Aspen Plus software in efforts
to study the technical performance of the system and optimise the energetic and exergetic efficiencies of the integrated system. In addition, the economic and environmental performance of the hybrid system was investigated with findings indicating
negative emission levels for the proposed system. This study demonstrated an important energy–food opportunity that can be harnessed to reach negative CO 2 emissions
and mitigate climate change [50, 51].