Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus:

Perspectives on the food dimension from an agricultural development economist

Nicole M. Mason, Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics

103-105 Kellogg Center, 14 January 2016

To feed 9.7 billion by 2050, food production will need to increase by at least 50% … and in the face of:

• Poor access to affordable, reliable, clean energy

• Land & water scarcity, degradation/pollution

• Climate change

Not just more food, different food

• Urbanization and rising incomes increased demand for:• Eggs, meat, fish, dairy• Fresh fruits and vegetables• Processed foods and

food away from home

• Many positives but water and energy-intensive

Interdisciplinary research at the FEW nexus

1. Sustainable agricultural intensification

2. Climate smart agriculture3. Improving food systems performance

Land, water, energy, and other inputs• Raising use efficiency• Increasing availability and access to

clean, reliable, sustainable sources

Spillovers at the FEW nexus – e.g.,

• How might improving access to safe drinking water raise agricultural productivity?

• How might having more reliable access to electricity increase the potential for local food processing firms to compete with imports?

Leveraging MSU expertise across campus

• Science of resource use, degradation, & restoration

• Developing new technologies, management practices, governance structures, etc.

• Dynamics of adoption/diffusion of innovations; roles of ICTs and human/institutional capacity building; effects on human health, nutrition, and well-being

• Organizations, institutions, policies; political economy

• Many more dimensions; links among above dimensions

Thank you!

Nicole M. MasonDepartment of Agricultural, Food, & Resource

Economicsmasonn@msu.edu