The U.S. food–energy–water system: A blueprint to fill the mesoscale gap for science and decision-making

Christopher Lant, Jacopo Baggio, Megan Konar, Alfonso Mejia, Benjamin Ruddell, Richard Rushforth, John L. Sabo, Tara J. Troy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Food, energy, and water (FEW) are interdependent and must be examined as a coupled natural–human system. This perspective essay defines FEW systems and outlines key findings about them as a blueprint for future models to satisfy six key objectives. The first three focus on linking the FEW production and consumption to impacts on Earth cycles in a spatially specific manner in order to diagnose problems and identify potential solutions. The second three focus on describing the evolution of FEW systems to identify risks, thus empowering the FEW actors to better achieve the goals of resilience and sustainability. Four key findings about the FEW systems that guide future model development are (1) that they engage ecological, carbon, water, and nutrient cycles most powerfully among all human systems; (2) that they operate primarily at a mesoscale best captured by counties, districts, and cities; (3) that cities are hubs within the FEW system; and (4) that the FEW system forms a complex network.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)251-263
Number of pages13
JournalAMBIO
Volume48
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Environmental footprints
  • Food–energy–water nexus
  • Network analysis
  • Urban ecology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Ecology

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