Water–Energy–Food Nexus: Tools and Strategies for Resilient Growth
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water-Energy Nexus".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 1676
Editors
Interests: issues of prosperity; water–energy–food (WEF) nexus; natural hazards; civil engineering; the intersection of art and aesthetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: hydrology; stochastic hydrology; floods; water resources engineering; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: power electronics; renewable energy; electric drives; control systems; energy storage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The foundation of the hierarchy of human needs rests on the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus, as all three components are indispensable for human survival and well-being. Throughout history, technological progress has continuously strengthened the interconnections among water, energy, and food systems, enabling societies to enhance productivity, stability, and prosperity. This increasing interdependence has been further supported by trade, which historically allowed the balancing of resource availability across regions. However, contemporary geopolitical disruptions, climatic variability, and economic uncertainties have profoundly reshaped global resource flows, highlighting self-sufficiency and resilience of the WEF nexus as critical prerequisites for societal survival.
Within this evolving context, a paradigm shift toward localized resource management is essential. Water and wastewater reuse, decentralized and renewable energy production, and local food systems (potentially supported by nutrient recovery from wastewater sources) are increasingly recognized as key strategies to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to external shocks. Integrated approaches that optimize synergies within the WEF nexus at the local and regional scale can significantly contribute to sustainability, climate adaptation, and long-term resource security.
This Special Issue aims to bring together high-quality research that advances scientific understanding, technological innovation, and policy frameworks, supporting self-sufficiency and resilience within the water–energy–food nexus. Contributions addressing modeling, case studies, nature-based solutions, circular economy practices, historical examples and governance perspectives are particularly welcome.
Dr. G.-Fivos Sargentis
Dr. Theano Iliopoulou
Dr. Levon Gevorkov
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- water–energy–food nexus
- resource resilience
- self-sufficiency
- water reuse
- wastewater reuse
- renewable energy
- circular economy
- local food systems
- resource recovery
- historical examples of water-energy and food management
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