by ndw5072 | Jun 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
SustainFood is Mapping the Frontier of the WEFE+ Nexus
By: Zeeshan Tahir Virk
The WEFE Nexus continues to evolve theoretically and in practical aspects. We are identifying the 100 most important questions for future WEF Nexus research and policy. The horizon scan is a strategic
foresight exercise to identify emerging trends and challenges of a subject, just like the Nexus. Are you already familiar with the Nexus approach and curious about how it will evolve in future or If you have
worked in water, energy, agriculture, forestry, ecosystems or NRM sectors and ever wondered how these sectors and systems interact and can be managed together? Join us in this horizon scan as we map the
future trajectory of the Nexus approach and identify shared priorities moving forward.
by ndw5072 | Jun 30, 2025 | Events, News
Sustain Food Network Champions Systems Thinking and Global Partnerships at
DNC2025
By: Zeeshan Tahir Virk
The Dresden Nexus Conference 2025 (DNC2025) from 8th – 10th April 2025 served as a powerful stage for the SustainFood Network to showcase its leadership in advancing systems thinking, integrated resource governance, and global collaboration for sustainable development. From redefining theoretical foundations to tackling the pressing challenges of migration and resource insecurity, SustainFood members; Prof. Abdullah Konak, Dr. Bassel Daher, Dr. Annette Huber-Lee and Mr. Zeeshan Tahir Virk hosted and participated in various sessions during the conference and played a central role in shaping the discourse on the resources’ nexus throughout the three-day event in Dresden, Germany.
Tackling Climate-Driven Migration through Nexus Resilience
Dr. Bassel Daher, Assistant Director for Sustainable Development at Texas A&M organized and contributed to the special session “Building Nexus Resilience: Addressing Migration and Conflicts in
Water-Energy-Food Systems.” The session brought together experts from the IOM, FAO, IWMI, and PRIMA Foundation to address the complex links between resource insecurity, forced migration, and fragile governance systems. Highlights from the session were published in a communication brief which included key research gaps and open research questions. A recording of the session can also be found on webinar series webpage.
Dr. Daher highlighted the urgent need to integrate human mobility dynamics into resource modeling and planning frameworks. By advocating for anticipatory action and systems approaches, the session advanced a roadmap for embedding migration within climate and development policies, a step essential for building resilience in vulnerable regions.
Dr. Daher also contributed a talk titled “Training Systems Thinkers of the Future: The Power of Project-Based Interdisciplinary Learning” in the session on Advancing a Curriculum of the Resource Nexus. The talk highlighted how project-based learning fosters critical systems thinking, adaptive decision making, and stakeholder engagement, all essential skills for future sustainability leaders.
Redefining the Nexus for Real-World Impact
Mr. Zeeshan Tahir Virk, a rising voice in the Nexus community and an alumnus of the SustainFood Collaborative Learning School-2024, delivered a compelling intervention on the evolving definition of the Nexus in the session “A Robust Definition of the Nexus”. Dr. Annette Huber-Lee, a co-principal investigator of Sustain Food at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), also joined this session online which was moderated by and featured renowned scholars in the resource nexus discourse. She reflected on the conceptual evolution of the Nexus since its emergence in 2011.
Based on learnings from the session and insights gathered from over 250 global stakeholder survey responses, the session culminated in a policy brief titled “Redefining the Nexus: From Concept to Coherent Action”. The brief proposes a new definition of the “Resource Nexus” as a systems-based framework that moves beyond the water-energy-food (WEF) triad to incorporate a wider spectrum of environmental and socio-economic interconnections. The definition emphasizes the role of governance, the integration of biophysical and social systems, and the need for inclusive, equity-centered planning. By doing so, the Resource Nexus aims to bridge the gap between high-level ambitions and local realities, offering guidance to policymakers, practitioners, and donors alike.
In addition to contributing to the proposed new definition of the resource nexus, Mr. Virk launched the horizon scan for Nexus research and policy during the session. Looking to the future, the SustainFood Network in collaboration with University of Oulu and NexusNet EU has launched a strategic foresight initiative to explore emerging trends, critical challenges, and frontier questions in Nexus thinking. This effort seeks to identify the 100 most important questions for the future of Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus research and policy. By engaging the Nexus epistemic community in this collective endeavor, the scan will map the
future trajectory of the Nexus approach and establish shared priorities to guide impactful, inclusive, and coordinated action in the years to come
Accelerating Network-to-Network Collaboration
For Prof. Abdullah Konak, one of the Co-PIs of Sustain Food, DNC2025 was a celebration of global connection made tangible. After months of virtual engagement, Prof. Konak met face-to-face with fellow SustainFood collaborators, including Bassel Daher and members of the Belmont Forum Africa Call team.
Prof. Konak also participated in the panel “Systems Approach for Disaster Risk Reduction,” further reinforcing SustainFood’s role in framing WEF Nexus solutions for complex risk environments. He emphasized how network-to-network collaborations fostered by AccelNet evolved into deep, interdisciplinary partnerships capable of addressing sustainability challenges that transcend national and institutional boundaries.
Looking Ahead: A Community in Motion
From foundational debates to applied policy solutions, the SustainFood Network’s contributions at DNC2025 reflected the full spectrum of Nexus thinking rooted in rigorous research, enriched by cross-regional collaboration, and driven by a shared vision of sustainability and resilience. As the Network continues to foster dialogue, build bridges, and shape next-generation solutions, its role as a catalyst for global change is more vital than ever.
by ndw5072 | Jun 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
SustainFood at the AGU Conference
By: Laura Snyder
Yousef Khajavigodellou is a Dual-PhD candidate in Geography & Environmental Science Policy at Michigan State University. He participated in SustainFood’s 2024 Collaborative Learning
School (CLS) at the Dickinson College Farm in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and represented SustainFood at the 2024 AGU Conference, where he presented research from that field experience. This year’s AGU Conference will be held December 15-19 in New Orleans, LA. The theme is “Where Science Connects Us,” which is fitting considering the increasing need for international
collaboration to conserve global water resources. The program schedule for the December conference will be finalized in September.
In 2024, Yousef authored the paper titled ”Advances in Integrated Crop-Livestock-Biogas Systems for Enhancing Water Quality and Sustainability in the Chesapeake Bay Watersheds: A
Case Study of Dickinson College Farm,” which presents a model to manage livestock and nutrient waste to prevent and reduce waterway pollution. Yousef co-authored a paper titled “Optimizing
Biogas Production from Agri-waste: A System Dynamics Analysis of Anaerobic Digestion and Dickinson College Farm.” Dickinson College Farm has a biogas plant which reduces water pollution by harnessing agriculture waste before it ever reaches the Chesapeake Bay. The result from his research encourages policy development, grant funding, and the promotion of technical knowledge to implement similar biogas facilities in the area to mitigate water pollution.
The 2024 CLS at Dickinson College Farm provided unique insight into the future of the WEF nexus. Dickinson College Farm prioritizes sustainability in its resource management with biogas production, local food production for Dickinson College, and making every attempt to minimize waste and use closed-loop systems. It is an exemplary farm with its effective use of agricultural resources. Yousef’s experience at Dickinson College Farm, and his background growing up on a rural farm gives him a unique insight into agriculture and the WEF nexus.
Yousef’s current research focuses on transboundary river basins in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Water is an especially precious resource in MENA region for agriculture and energy production, and when a river basin shares borders with multiple countries there is potential for conflict over water usage. These potential conflicts are magnified when river basins share borders with multiple countries, such as the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates basins. Water diplomacy aims to minimize conflict over water usage between international players in both the short and long term. As conflict arises from changes in the global climate and world markets, water diplomacy addresses these changes by anticipating solutions for oncoming conflicts. Yousef also studies the Urmia Lake Basin (ULB) in western Iran, a region that has experienced severe water loss in recent years and now requires urgent and strategic management to sustain the livelihoods of its dependent populations. Research on Lake Urmia has emphasized the complex interplay of socio-economic and political feedback loops that have contributed to water bankruptcy in the basin, largely resulting from decades of government-led development interventions.
Successful water diplomacy requires cooperation between local and international levels. Yousef finds that by involving both small and large stakeholders we can reach a common understanding of how to share water in a way that benefits everyone. A strong network with highly involved stakeholders ensures that all voices are heard. Women as a group have been historically left out of WEF nexus resource management across the globe. Through his systematic review of the WEF news and water diplomacy, Yousef identifies a need for policy and platforms that promote women’s participation in water diplomacy.
Yousef plans to continue his research on water diplomacy through two case studies—the MENA region and the Urmia Lake Basin—and aims to publish his findings in the upcoming fall. He is committed to advancing academic inquiry into the dynamics of water diplomacy, crisis, and conflict, anticipating that these challenges will grow increasingly urgent and complex in the years ahead. He envisions a future where SustainFood expands its presence into the Middle East, fostering opportunities for stakeholders to advocate for sustainable management of WEF resources through an integrated nexus approach
by ndw5072 | Jun 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
SustainFood at WEFE Nexus Forum
By: Laura Snyder
The WEFE Nexus Forum, 2nd Edition was held in Tangier, Morocco, on February 5-6, 2025. It provided a forum for over 400 participants from around the world to collaborate and share innovative ideas on sustainable water, energy, and food management. The Forum aimed to strengthen existing solutions within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus and build partnerships between policymakers and stakeholders.
During the Forum, SustainFood networker Dr. Michael Jacobson, a Professor of Forest Resources at Penn State discussed emerging technologies that enhance resilient and sustainable agriculture. He also moderated a panel on financing WEFE Nexus projects. He emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement, stating, “This forum allows us to examine case studies and solutions being implemented on the ground. There is still much work to be done. We need to engage with farmers and those who rely on water resources. Their input is crucial. Change must start from the bottom up.”
Local initiatives serve as the foundation for global success, and Morocco stands out as a leader in addressing complex social and environmental issues. In 2021, King Mohammed VI launched the New Development Model for Morocco, a framework designed to tackle the climate crisis, enhance natural resource management, and promote equitable economic growth. This model focuses on investing in human capital, fostering social equality, empowering local communities, and diversifying the economy. Speakers at the WEFE Nexus Forum presented innovative technologies such as green hydrogen and agrivoltaics systems, which optimize agricultural yields, conserve water, and reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, grassroots community-led solutions were highlighted as essential for sustainable economic development and a greener future.
The WEFE Nexus Forum showcased Morocco’s commitment to sustainability in resource management and its proactive approach to climate-related challenges, including drought, urbanization, and economic dependence on exports. The country’s National Low Carbon Strategy 2050 pledges to cut carbon emissions by 77% by mid-century through greener infrastructure. Similarly, the Generation Green 2020-2030 strategy focuses on agricultural and rural development. Morocco’s dedication to sustainable development in the WEFE Nexus extends beyond its borders, positively impacting neighboring countries as well.
The Forum welcomed participants from over 41 countries, particularly from the Mediterranean region and the EU. The discussions underscored the global effort needed to address climate change and resource scarcity, especially in the context of rapid urbanization. The EU aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through green energy, sustainable infrastructure, and environmentally conscious consumer behavior. Both
Morocco and the EU envision a smooth transition to sustainable industries that will enhance their economies and improve living conditions.
SustainFood, in collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco, is fostering innovation in green technology in Africa. Through international partnerships, we can learn from global leaders in the WEFE Nexus and bring their transformative ideas to the United States, advancing sustainable solutions worldwide
by ndw5072 | Jun 30, 2025 | Events, News, Uncategorized
SustainFood participates in Southern Africa Regional WEF+ Nexus Summit, 19-20 August 2024
By: Chris Scott
Date: 23 September 2024
Chris Scott, Penn State Co-Principal Investigator on the SustainFood network project, attended and presented at the international event, Accelerating Progress Towards Achieving the SDGs through Broadening the Water-Energy-Food (WEF+) Nexus, hosted by the South African Water Research Commission in Pretoria. In attendance were delegates from countries across Africa, Europe, and North America, who presented and discussed how the WEF Nexus can be expanded to address other challenges including the environment and health, especially to help local and regional partners make further progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In his presentation, Transdisciplinary WEF+ Science and Practice Networks SustainFood as a USA-Africa-Europe SDG 17 “Partnership for the Goals, Scott identified additional WEF+ challenges, including
climate, carbon, and migration, which the SustainFood network is working to address. More significantly, he made the point that networks like SustainFood require a transdisciplinary approach of researchers
and scientists partnering with policymakers, planners, communities, and regional groupings like many that were represented at the regional summit. These network-to-network interactions (a core goal of the
National Science Foundation’s AccelNet program that supports SustainFood) are examples of SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”.
The summit provided an opportunity to develop and extend SustainFood’s WEF Nexus-focused networking, including with a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) WEF Nexus Dialogue
Project supported by the EU, with South African partner University of KwaZulu-Natal that is joining forces with the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health to develop the African Academy on
Water, Environment, and Health. As part of his travels to the region, Scott also met with global WEF Nexus scholar, Mohammad Al-Saidi, of Qatar University and the Qatar National Research Foundation, and explored mutual interests in SustainFood plans in North Africa in 2025
