Living Planet Report - WWF South Africa

ThE FOOD-WATER-ENERGY NExUS
Access to secure supplies of food, energy and water is the fundamental
basis for a successful society. These three basic necessities are
often considered in isolation, but there is growing recognition
of the fundamental dependence of each of these on the others –
the Food-Water-Energy Nexus.
Initially conceptualised by the World Economic Forum in 2011, WWF believes that understanding the Food-
Water-Energy Nexus is the only way to address long-term food, water and energy security. Better knowledge
of the nexus’ many dimensions will enable the development of long-term and sustainable strategies to address
the issues of economic and social security. WWF-South Africa is launching a new stream of work to examine the
nexus from a South African perspective. The work will be carried out in partnership with the Water Research
Commission and the National Agricultural and Marketing Council.
energy to Food
until recently, South Africa was deemed a food-secure nation
with the means to supply the basic nutritional needs of its
population. However, affordability and availability of food in
South Africa is a growing concern, with 60% of local households
experiencing food insecurity.
Food industry input costs ranging from production and
processing to waste disposal are directly linked to energy
prices. rising international and local energy prices are affecting
the costs of food in South Africa dramatically.
Food to energy
Biofuels, derived from certain food crops, are one of the
alternative, ‘green’ energy options available to reduce
our dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse
gas emissions. Commentators have suggested that
the growing demand for biofuels may result in
food crops being replaced by biofuel crops, thus
threatening food security. research suggests
that biofuel crop cultivation has already
raised the costs of certain foodstuffs.
Energy
energy to Water
energy is required at all stages of the water-use cycle, each element of which
has unique energy intensities that can vary considerably. energy insecurity in
the water-use cycle would aggravate water shortages.
Food
Food to Water
While water quality impacts the production of energy and food,
agriculture often uses precious water resources inefficiently.
Poor water quality will threaten food export, increase the cost of
energy production and reduce access to food export markets.
Water to Food
Food security requires sufficient quantities of freshwater
to support crop cultivation. in South Africa, where trends
suggest that water demand may outstrip supply as
early as 2015, food production already uses 60% of
available water.
Water security depends on the quality of available
water as well as the quantity. in addition to
managing water scarcity, agriculture must
also address declining water quality.
Water
Water to energy
South Africa currently faces the challenge of delivering 89 000 MW of power
generation capacity by 2025. Water is essential for energy extraction and
production, and different energy generation technologies vary in terms of their
water consumption. Despite South Africa’s water insecurity, decision-making
regarding new energy generation does not take water security into account.
Understanding the nexus between freshwater, food and energy is essential to creating
management plans that will ensure the long-term well-being of people and the planet.
Panda Bulletin August 2012 – Page 13