60
S. Liphadzi et al.
one sector benefits the others. Thus, the nexus approach ensures that investments
in the project are responsible, achievable, and sustainable.
4 Transitioning Towards Sustainable Food Systems
Through Nexus Planning
A sustainable food system refers to an agriculture system that delivers healthy food
to meet current food requirements, while at the same time preserving healthy and
sustainable ecosystems that are capable of providing food for generations to come,
with controlled negative impact to the environment [2]. It is a system that encourages
local production and knowledge, providing for nutritious and healthy food, which
is available, accessible, and affordable to all and at all times, and at the same time
protecting farmers and workers, consumers, and communities [23]. Thus, a sustainable food system is a complex system driven by intricately interlinked economic,
social, cultural, and environmental factors, which require transformative thinking and
integrated assessment tools to guide informed strategic polices [2]. Nexus planning
provides integrated tools to establish relationships between complex systems, indicating areas for priority intervention [45]. The approach is a lens for understanding
the complex interlinkages among economic, social, and ecological interactions and
is a transitional pathway towards sustainable food system [52].
Nexus planning balances the interactions between agriculture, water, and energy
resources, making it particularly relevant for southern Africa where there is an evident
imbalance in the use of resources [45, 56]. Currently, 95% of the agricultural land in
the region is rainfed, yet there is perennial food insecurity [8, 58]. This calls for investment in agriculture development to tap into the potential of the region to be food selfsufficient, but this requires considerations for land and water management solutions
to ensure sustainability. Nexus planning provides decision support pathways towards
ecological sustainability on irrigation [68]. Apart from investment and technological
developments in the agriculture sector, nexus planning improves productivity and
resource use efficiency [34]. For example, the development of smart plants has seen
the emergence of more drought-tolerant varieties through genetic modification and
genome editing [79]. Some plants are also being engineered to develop more efficient photosynthetic pathways that fully use the sun’s available energy [62]. These
technologies are envisaged to improve productivity in hot climates and water-scarce
regions. Remote sensing has equally become an important component of irrigation
management, particularly for irrigation scheduling [1]. Remote sensing products are
being used to pinpoint areas of wet and dry zones in cultivated fields, and for estimating crop water requirements [3]. On the other hand, mobile apps and other social
media platforms are being used to disseminate information on weather, rainfall, and
soil humidity to allow better farm management and productivity, as well as information on markets [4]. These advances need to be applied in a way that is detrimental
to the environment.
S. Liphadzi et al.
one sector benefits the others. Thus, the nexus approach ensures that investments
in the project are responsible, achievable, and sustainable.
4 Transitioning Towards Sustainable Food Systems
Through Nexus Planning
A sustainable food system refers to an agriculture system that delivers healthy food
to meet current food requirements, while at the same time preserving healthy and
sustainable ecosystems that are capable of providing food for generations to come,
with controlled negative impact to the environment [2]. It is a system that encourages
local production and knowledge, providing for nutritious and healthy food, which
is available, accessible, and affordable to all and at all times, and at the same time
protecting farmers and workers, consumers, and communities [23]. Thus, a sustainable food system is a complex system driven by intricately interlinked economic,
social, cultural, and environmental factors, which require transformative thinking and
integrated assessment tools to guide informed strategic polices [2]. Nexus planning
provides integrated tools to establish relationships between complex systems, indicating areas for priority intervention [45]. The approach is a lens for understanding
the complex interlinkages among economic, social, and ecological interactions and
is a transitional pathway towards sustainable food system [52].
Nexus planning balances the interactions between agriculture, water, and energy
resources, making it particularly relevant for southern Africa where there is an evident
imbalance in the use of resources [45, 56]. Currently, 95% of the agricultural land in
the region is rainfed, yet there is perennial food insecurity [8, 58]. This calls for investment in agriculture development to tap into the potential of the region to be food selfsufficient, but this requires considerations for land and water management solutions
to ensure sustainability. Nexus planning provides decision support pathways towards
ecological sustainability on irrigation [68]. Apart from investment and technological
developments in the agriculture sector, nexus planning improves productivity and
resource use efficiency [34]. For example, the development of smart plants has seen
the emergence of more drought-tolerant varieties through genetic modification and
genome editing [79]. Some plants are also being engineered to develop more efficient photosynthetic pathways that fully use the sun’s available energy [62]. These
technologies are envisaged to improve productivity in hot climates and water-scarce
regions. Remote sensing has equally become an important component of irrigation
management, particularly for irrigation scheduling [1]. Remote sensing products are
being used to pinpoint areas of wet and dry zones in cultivated fields, and for estimating crop water requirements [3]. On the other hand, mobile apps and other social
media platforms are being used to disseminate information on weather, rainfall, and
soil humidity to allow better farm management and productivity, as well as information on markets [4]. These advances need to be applied in a way that is detrimental
to the environment.