Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

The Water–Energy–Food Nexus Approach to Sustainable Development: A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Urban Agriculture, Resource Management, and Water Governance

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fatemeh Alipoor 1
Kurosh Rezaei-Moghaddam 2
1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
2 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
10.22034/gahr.2026.573227.2674
Abstract
Water, energy, and food security, as vital resources in the modern world, are deeply interconnected, and constraints in any one of these sectors can directly or indirectly affect access to the others. This paper explores the water–energy–food nexus approach as a conceptual and analytical framework for understanding and managing the complexity of resource systems. The study examines four case studies: urban agriculture in London, sewage sludge management in Boston, governance of sustainable food production in São Paulo’s Green Belt, and management of the Zayandehroud irrigation network in Iran. The results indicate that applying the nexus approach not only improves resource efficiency but also enhances social, environmental, and institutional outcomes. Moreover, composite nexus indicators provide effective tools for multidimensional decision-making, policy evaluation, and the reduction of cross-sectoral trade-offs. Overall, the water–energy–food nexus offers a strategic framework for policy design, resource optimization, and the advancement of sustainable development at local, national, and transnational scales.
Keywords
Water-Energy-Food Nexus
Sustainable Development
Urban Agriculture
Resource Governance
Irrigation Network Management

Subjects

Geography and Human Relationships

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 10 February 2026

  • Receive Date 31 January 2026
  • Accept Date 10 February 2026