About this Research Topic

Background

Focusing on cross-cutting issues in the nexus. Submissions will consider innovations in technology for addressing the water, energy, food security nexus by leveraging on aspects such as the 4th industrial revolution (4IR) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Growing challenges in the food-water-energy nexus result from existing problems that have several interacting complex factors in flux that are difficult to define and require thinking innovatively. The cross-cutting nature of issues relating to the food-water-energy nexus means that there is an increasing interest to avoid operating in silos given the strong inter-dependencies that are highly exposed to climate variability. Systemic constraints in institutional structures and resources often compromise avenues for inter-sectoral action, causing difficulties for collaboration, to ad hoc programs with chequered results. It is, therefore, essential to enhance policy coherence, and highlight overlaps that facilitate a coordinated approach.

Such an approach towards the food-water-energy nexus facilitates the integration of climate change in sectoral policies and plans. Particularly in the context of Africa which is facing increasing climate-induced extreme events; the need to develop interventions that recognize and address underlying interdependencies to enable prosecuting development goals in a more sustainable and climate-resilient manner cannot be overemphasized.

This Research Topic explores innovations in technology for addressing the water-energy-food security nexus through leveraging on aspects such as the 4th industrial revolution (4IR) and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the final decade of the SDGs action, this is urgent in informing policy, mainstreaming requisite measures and cross-sectoral linkages to enable coordinated action.

This Research Topic is part of a 3-part collection.
(1) Climate Change, Land, Water and Food Security: Perspectives from Sub-Saharan Africa

(2) Climate Change, Land, Energy and Food Security: Perspectives from Sub-Saharan Africa

Keywords: food-water-energy nexus, 4th industrial revolution, Internet of Things, climate change, climate-resilient, SDGs

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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