Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions
Agricultural water management (AWM) is increasingly transitioning towards transformative thinking, where interconnected sectors, including water, energy and food, are managed holistically. Trends point towards cross-sectoral and harmonised strategies to optimise water use efficiency and productivity...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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Wiley
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176955 |
| _version_ | 1855515719887749120 |
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| author | Nhamo, L. Taguta, C. Mpandeli, S. Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel Liphadzi, S. Mabhaudhi, T. |
| author_browse | Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel Liphadzi, S. Mabhaudhi, T. Mpandeli, S. Nhamo, L. Taguta, C. |
| author_facet | Nhamo, L. Taguta, C. Mpandeli, S. Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel Liphadzi, S. Mabhaudhi, T. |
| author_sort | Nhamo, L. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Agricultural water management (AWM) is increasingly transitioning towards transformative thinking, where interconnected sectors, including water, energy and food, are managed holistically. Trends point towards cross-sectoral and harmonised strategies to optimise water use efficiency and productivity, integrate renewable energy, promote sustainable food production and strengthen ecological resilience while considering economic incentives for farmers. However, the main challenge of AWM has been managing water and energy for food production amidst the scarcity, degradation and depletion of water resources. This requires a shift from the current AWM practices, which focus on single-factor productivity and resource use efficiency at the expense of equity, conservation, consumption and the circular economy. This entails reducing water consumption, increasing environmental flows, minimising waste and reusing resources in agriculture. This systematic review identifies pathways to transition traditional AWM practices to a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus-informed system that is equitable, inclusive, integrated and resilient, balancing the socio-ecological systems. This review establishes the interlinkages of WEF resources as drivers of resource use efficiency in sustainable crop production, highlighting the trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions of a smart AWM system. The recommendations propose shifting from the current production-centric AWM to one that is transformative, equitable, sustainable and resilient for human and natural systems. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace176955 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| publisherStr | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1769552025-12-08T09:54:28Z Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions Nhamo, L. Taguta, C. Mpandeli, S. Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel Liphadzi, S. Mabhaudhi, T. agricultural water management agricultural transformation water resources energy food systems nexus approaches climate change adaptation resource use efficiency Agricultural water management (AWM) is increasingly transitioning towards transformative thinking, where interconnected sectors, including water, energy and food, are managed holistically. Trends point towards cross-sectoral and harmonised strategies to optimise water use efficiency and productivity, integrate renewable energy, promote sustainable food production and strengthen ecological resilience while considering economic incentives for farmers. However, the main challenge of AWM has been managing water and energy for food production amidst the scarcity, degradation and depletion of water resources. This requires a shift from the current AWM practices, which focus on single-factor productivity and resource use efficiency at the expense of equity, conservation, consumption and the circular economy. This entails reducing water consumption, increasing environmental flows, minimising waste and reusing resources in agriculture. This systematic review identifies pathways to transition traditional AWM practices to a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus-informed system that is equitable, inclusive, integrated and resilient, balancing the socio-ecological systems. This review establishes the interlinkages of WEF resources as drivers of resource use efficiency in sustainable crop production, highlighting the trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions of a smart AWM system. The recommendations propose shifting from the current production-centric AWM to one that is transformative, equitable, sustainable and resilient for human and natural systems. 2025-09 2025-10-10T04:35:50Z 2025-10-10T04:35:50Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176955 en Open Access Wiley Nhamo, L.; Taguta, C.; Mpandeli, S.; Dirwai, T.; Liphadzi, S.; Mabhaudhi, T. 2025. Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions. Irrigation and Drainage, 12p. (Online first). doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.70032 |
| spellingShingle | agricultural water management agricultural transformation water resources energy food systems nexus approaches climate change adaptation resource use efficiency Nhamo, L. Taguta, C. Mpandeli, S. Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel Liphadzi, S. Mabhaudhi, T. Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions |
| title | Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions |
| title_full | Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions |
| title_fullStr | Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions |
| title_short | Transforming agricultural water management through the water–energy–food nexus: trends, opportunities, barriers and solutions |
| title_sort | transforming agricultural water management through the water energy food nexus trends opportunities barriers and solutions |
| topic | agricultural water management agricultural transformation water resources energy food systems nexus approaches climate change adaptation resource use efficiency |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176955 |
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