The Water-Energy-Food Nexus at FAO

Water, energy and food are essential for human well-being and sustainable development. Global projections indicate that demand for freshwater, energy and food will increase significantly over the next decades under the pressure of population growth and mobility, economic development, international trade, urbanisation, diversifying diets, cultural and technological changes, and climate change. Agriculture accounts for 70 percent
of total global freshwater withdrawals, making it the largest user of water. Water is used for agriculture production, forestry and fishery, along the entire agri-food supply chain, and it is used to produce, transport and use all forms of energy.

Keywordstrade-offs, nexus approach, landscape approach