Water, Energy & Food

Plan water supply, energy production, and agriculture together. Use WEFx to compare resource demands and identify how a choice in one system affects the others.

The water-energy-food nexus describes these connections. Understanding them can help your team evaluate trade-offs, use resources more efficiently, and plan for changing conditions.

Water: Water is fundamental for food and energy generation. Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater globally, accounting for around 70 percent of total water withdrawals. Water is also crucial for energy production, as it is used in thermal power plants for cooling purposes and in hydroelectricity generation. Water is also for hydraulic fracturing, a process used to extract oil and gas from underground rock formations. Managing water sustainably is essential for ensuring food security, supporting economic activities, and preserving ecosystems.

Energy: Energy is required for water pumping, treatment, and distribution, as well as for agricultural activities such as irrigation, processing, and transportation. Conversely, water is essential for energy production, particularly in thermal power plants and hydropower generation.

Food: Agriculture is highly dependent on both water and energy inputs, including delivering irrigation water and manufacturing of fertilizers, pesticides, and agriculture machinery. Changes in water availability and quality, as well as energy prices and availability, significantly impact food production, distribution, and prices. Sustainable agricultural practices, efficient water use, and renewable energy adoption are essential for ensuring food security, reducing environmental impacts, and promoting resilience in the face of climate change.

Addressing the water-energy-food nexus requires integrated and coordinated efforts across sectors and stakeholders to optimize resource use, minimize trade-offs and environmental impacts, and maximize synergies. Policy interventions, technological innovations, and institutional frameworks can help enhance resource efficiency, promote renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, and improve access to water, energy, and food for all.

Use AI-supported analysis to compare alternatives and identify opportunities for more efficient resource use and more resilient plans.

Tell us which water, energy, or agricultural decision you need to make so we can discuss suitable analysis and support.