scholarly journals An integrated modeling framework for coevolution and feedback loops of nexus across economy, ecology and food systems based on the sustainable development of water resources

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaogeng Tan ◽  
Zengchuan Dong ◽  
Sandra M. Guzman ◽  
Xinkui Wang ◽  
Wei Yan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Dynamic Responses ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Objective Model ◽  
Sd Model

Abstract. Sustainable development in water resources is becoming a hot topic in recent years. The world is facing the disequilibrium between the availability of resources and the increase in population with fast-growing economies and social development. This study proposes a new methodological framework of sustainable development of water resources based on the response linkages and feedback loops of economy-ecology-food (EEF) nexus. It provides a new way to identify the interconnection and coevolution process between these EEF. The multi-objective model and system dynamic (SD) model were coupled to characterize the interconnections between processes and their dynamic responses to a set of scenarios. The combination of decomposition-coordination method (DC) and dynamic programming was used to find the optimal scenario based on each component of the EEF nexus. The Upper reach of Guijiang River Basin (UGRB) was presented as a case study. Results showed that the coupled multi-objective model and SD model presented in this study are able to characterize the interactions and feedback between EEF systems adequately. Most importantly, the rapid growth rate of socio-economic indexes will drive the awareness of river ecology and showed a higher sensitivity under different decision preferences. The results provided in this study can provide baseline information for stakeholders and policymakers in the field of water management for a better understanding of the interactions across systems.

scholarly journals A system dynamic model to quantify the impacts of water resources allocation on water-energy-food-society (WEFS) nexus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujie Zeng ◽  
Dedi Liu ◽  
Shenglian Guo ◽  
Lihua Xiong ◽  
Pan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Dynamic Model ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Water System ◽  
System Dynamic ◽  
Resources Allocation ◽  
System Dynamic Model ◽  
Water Resources Allocation ◽  
Study Results

Abstract. Sustainable management of water-energy-food (WEF) nexus remains an urgent challenge, as interactions between WEF and community sensitivity and reservoir operation in water system are often neglected. This paper aims to provide a new approach for modeling WEF nexus by incorporating community sensitivity and reservoirs operation into the system. The co-evolution behaviors of the nexus across water, energy, food and society (WEFS) were simulated by the system dynamic model. The reservoirs operation was simulated to determine water supply for energy and food systems by the Interactive River-Aquifer Simulation water resources allocations model. Shortage rates for water, energy and food resulted from the simulations were used to qualify their impacts on WEFS nexus through environmental awareness (EA) in society system. Community sensitivity indicated by EA can adjust the co-evolution behaviors of WEFS nexus through feedback loops. The proposed approach was applied to the mid-lower reaches of Hanjiang river basin in China as a case study. Results show that EA accumulation is mainly from shortages of water and energy, and the available water and energy are the vital resources to sustain WEFS nexus. Feedback driven by EA effectively keeps the system from collapsing and contributes to the concordant development of WEFS nexus. Water resources allocation can remarkably ensure water supply through reservoirs operation, decreasing water shortage rate from 16.60 % to 7.53 %. The resource constraining the WEFS nexus is transferred from water to energy. This paper therefore contributes to the understanding of interactions across WEFS system and helps the efficiency improving of resources management.

scholarly journals Identifying the dynamic evolution and feedback process of water resources nexus system considering socioeconomic development, ecological protection, and food security: A practical tool for sustainable water use

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 6495-6522
Author(s):  
Yaogeng Tan ◽  
Zengchuan Dong ◽  
Sandra M. Guzman ◽  
Xinkui Wang ◽  
Wei Yan
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Multi Objective Optimization ◽  
Feedback Process ◽  
Negative Feedback Loops ◽  
Ecological Protection ◽  
Coevolution Process ◽  
Water Uses ◽  
Sd Model

Abstract. The accelerated consumption of water resources caused by the rapid increase in population and urbanization is intensifying the complex interactions across water resources, socioeconomic development, ecological protection, and food security (WSEF), which causes not only the imbalance between water supply and demand but also the vulnerability of both food and ecological systems. Therefore, identifying the dynamic coevolution and feedback process is one of the most crucial ways of achieving the goal of sustainable water use. In this study, we developed an integrated modeling framework to better identify the dynamic interaction and coevolution process of the nexus across WSEF systems in the context of sustainable water uses by coupling system dynamic (SD) model and multi-objective optimization model. The SD model is used to simulate both the dynamic interaction of each agent and the coevolution process of the whole nexus system by positive/negative feedback loops. The multi-objective optimization model is used to quantify the negative feedback loops of the SD model by generating the optimal scheme of different water users. Finally, the model uncertainty considering different weighting factors is analyzed. The framework is applied to the upper reaches of the Guijiang River basin, China. Results show that (i) the rapid economic growth increases the conflict between the water uses for socioeconomic development and ecological protection, intensifying the ecological awareness and resulting in more water shortages of socioeconomic and food agents, which is unable to support such rapid development. (ii) Once the economic growth rate decreases, water resources are able to support economic development with a decreased overload index and stable crop yield, which further contributes to water sustainability. (iii) The river ecological agent is the critical factor that affects the robustness of the model. (iv) The equal consideration of each water usage is the most beneficial to sustainable development. These results highlight the importance of water resources management, considering the tradeoffs across multiple stakeholders, and give a strong reference to policymakers for comprehensive urban planning.

Research Based On Multi-Objective Programming on Allocation of Water Resources in Panjin Shuangtai Estuary Wetland

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 4206-4211
Author(s):  
Tie Liang Wang ◽  
Xin Yuan ◽  
Xiao Feng Lu ◽  
Fang Li Su ◽  
Xiao Lei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Ecological Function ◽  
Surrounding Water ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Multi Objective Programming ◽  
Objective Programming

In order to restore ecological function of wetland, determine the exploitation plan of water resources reasonably and promote the sustainable development of ecological function in wetland, based on the exploitation and utilization situation as well as the planning objectives of Panjin Shuangtai estuary wetland, this essay focuses on discussing water demand of natural ecological system, water quality of agricultural irrigation and aquaculture, and residential water consumption in wetland. Using various areas of wetland as decision variables and aiming to restore the size of all areas back to that in 2000, this essay takes the view of system engineering as guidance, establishes multi-objective programming model for rational allocation of wetland resources, and makes it able to compare with the other three created configurations plans. Results show that only giving priority to the needs of ecological water consumption of wetland to achieve an efficient use of surrounding water resources can we make the recovery of this wetland better and faster, and therefore achieve a desired sustainable development of ecological function. This has an important significance in leading us to a sustainable development of ecological restoration and constructing a framework of coordinated use of water resources of wetland system.

On the importance of tightening feedback loops for sustainable development of food systems

Food Policy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Åsa Sundkvist ◽  
Rebecka Milestad ◽  
AnnMari Jansson
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Feedback Loops

scholarly journals Modeling the integrated framework of water resources system considering socioeconomic development, ecological protection, and food production: A practical tool for sustainable water uses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaogeng Tan ◽  
Zengchuan Dong ◽  
Xinkui Wang ◽  
Wei Yan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Dynamic Interaction ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Ecological Protection ◽  
Coevolution Process ◽  
Food Vulnerability ◽  
Water Uses

Abstract. The accelerated consumption of water resources caused by the rapid increase of population and urbanization is intensifying the negative interactions of water uses across socioeconomic development, ecological protection, and food productivity (SEF), which causes an imbalance between water supply & demand, ecological and food vulnerability, and further water unsustainability. To solve this problem, this study developed an integrated modeling framework to better identify the dynamic interaction and coevolution process of the nexus across SEF systems in the context of sustainable water uses by coupling two models: system dynamic model (SD) and multi-objective optimization model. First, the SD model is used to simulate both the dynamic interaction of each agent and the coevolution process of the whole system under external changes. Next, the multi-objective optimal model is used to generate the optimal scheme by iteration process with the initial scheme of SD, further identifying the dynamic interaction and coevolution process in terms of sustainable water use. Finally, the model uncertainty considering different weighting factors is analyzed. The framework is applied to the Upper Reaches of Guijiang River Basin, China. Results show that: (i) the rapid economic growth intensifies the ecological awareness and cannot support such rapid development because it rises the conflict between environment and economic water uses, resulting in more water shortages of socio-economy and food agent. (ii) Once the economic growth rate decreased, water resources are able to support economic development with decreased overload index and stable crop yield, which further contributes to water sustainability. (iii) The river ecological agent is the critical factor that affects the robustness of the model. (iv) The equal consideration of each water usage is the most beneficial to sustainable development. These results highlight the importance of water resources management considering the tradeoffs across multiple stakeholders and give a strong reference to policymakers for comprehensive urban planning.

Managing Water for Food and Agricultural Transformation in Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 469-487
Author(s):  
Timothy O. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Rural Transformation ◽  
Agricultural Transformation ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Technical Solutions ◽  
Food Value

This chapter examines the links between water, food and society in Africa. Agricultural transformation to promote growth, eliminate poverty and hunger and sustain ecosystems is one of the central pillars of current development agenda in Africa. Achievement of this agenda will crucially depend on sustainable water management. However, agri-food systems and water resources are under greater pressure than ever before due to demographic, economic and climatic changes. The nature and scale of these changes suggest that only a holistic and integrated management of all shades of water resources, green, blue and grey, will allow Africa to eliminate hunger and poverty. Research-based technical solutions as well as institutional and policy measures are proposed that would allow available water resources to be sustainably used to promote climate-resilient farming systems, improve agricultural productivity and food security and spur the development of viable food value chains needed for agricultural and rural transformation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document