This work is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) collaboration between the Directorates for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and Geosciences (GEO) under grant DUE - 1125331

Unit 1 Food Energy Water Connections – slides 1-18

FOOD AS THE FOUNDATION OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Module Slides

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UNIT 1 – CONCEPTS & THEMES LIST

- The Natural Environment- The Human Built Environment (Society, Economy, Urban)- Resources, Resource Usage, Resource Management- Human Dependency- Limitations & Capacity- Supply & Demand- Cause & Effect Relationships- Consequences & Impacts- Systems, Interdependency, & Systems in Operation- Agriculture

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What is a Resource?• A resource is: a substance in the

environment that is three things

• 1) useful to people• 2) economically & technologically

feasible to access, and• 3) socially acceptable to use.

food, water, energy, air, land, buildings, ideas, etc. are all resources.

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Food Energy & Water Demands –Now and in the Future

IChemE: Institution of Chemical Engineers www.icheme.org

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IChemE: Institution of Chemical Engineers www.icheme.org

Limitations in A World of Demands

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Four Types of LimitationsBiological / Physical Limits - “The Earth is Only So Big.”

Limits of Nature & its Resources, Biological Limits & Needs of Human Beings.

Economic Limits – “We Can Only Afford So Much.” Limits of Finance and Funding, Budgetary Limits.

Scientific / Technical Limits – “We Can Only Do What We Know.” Human Knowledge Limits. Discovery, Development & Application Limits.

Social / Political Limits – “We Can Only Afford So Much.” Limits of Human Will and A Lack of Desire to Change Conditions.

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viewed as a series of bi-lateral relationships

adapted from “Getting to grips with the water-energy-food nexus?” An IChemE Green Paper; (the case study diagram), p.3 www.icheme.org

FOOD-ENERGY-WATER CONNECTIONS

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THE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FOOD ENERGY WATER SYSTEM

WATER (an extractor) ….… for ENERGYWater is needed produce our energy; water is used to cool power plants and to grow biofuels.

WATER (a producer & purifier) ……. for FOODWater is needed to make our crops grow .

ENERGY (an extractor, producer, deliverer, purifier, & disposer) ………. for WATER Energy is needed to treat our water & to transport our food from field to table.  ENERGY (an extractor, producer, deliverer, purifier, & disposer) ..….... for FOODEnergy is needed to transport our food from field to table.

FOOD (a producer – biofuels) ………. for ENERGYProvides nutrients and calories (energy) for people, and can be used to produce energy

FOOD (a global transporter) ……… for WATERFood transports water through sustenance (water in food & all people eat & drink) adapted from “Getting to grips with the water-energy-food nexus?” An IChemE Green Paper; (the case study diagram), p.3 www.icheme.org

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HOW HUMANS USE RESOURCES

http://www.worldwatch-europe.org/node/313

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THE SEQUENCE ORDER OF ACTIVITIES WHEN HUMANS USE RESOURCES

• 1st - DISCOVERY • 2nd- EXTRACTION • 3rd - PRODUCTION (PROCESSING /

PREPARATION)

• 4th - DISTRIBUTION / DELIVERY • 5th - CONSUMPTION / USE • 6th - DISPOSAL / WASTE or• 6th - RE-USE / REPURPOSE

11http://front.moveon.org/we-usually-dont-publish-graphics-about-plastic-cutlery-but-when-we-do/#.VwVWmk32aUk

IMPRACITICAL USE of RESOURCES

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TYPES of PRODUCTION NEEDS for ENERGY & WATER to PRODUCE FOOD

Source: DOE report to Congress, 2006

Food production and distribution require energy and water

Energy production requires water:•Thermoelectric cooling• Hydropower• Extraction and

mining•Fuel Production (H2, ethanol, biofuels)• Emission controls

Water production and distribution require energy:•Pumping•Treatment•Transportation• Heating

Introduction to the Nexus

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Domestic, 1%Irrigation, 37%

Mining, 1%

Thermoelectric, 41%

Public Supply, 13%

U.S. Freshwater Withdrawals (2005)1

Sources: 1USGS, Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005, USGS Circular 1344, 2009 2USGS, Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1995, USGS Circular 1200, 1998 *1995 is the most recent consumption data collected by the USGS

Livestock, 1%

Aquaculture, 3%

Industrial, 5%

Domestic, 6% Commercial, 1%

Thermoelectric, 3% Mining, 1%

Industrial, 3% Livestock, 3%

U.S. Freshwater Consumption (1995)2*

Irrigation, 81%

Water withdrawals: water removed from the source (e.g., aquifer, river, lake, or ocean) for use

Water consumption: water that is removed from the source such that it is not available for reuse at the same location or downstream

ENERGY AND FOOD REQUIRE WATER

Withdrawal (billion liters daily)

Consumption (billion liters daily)

Thermoelectric 540 (41%) 15 (3%)

Irrigation 490 (37%) 405 (81%)

The electricity sector is heavily dependent on water, requiring large volumes at a sufficient quality (e.g., temperature) for efficient production levels

Introduction to the Nexus

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UNEQUAL WATER USAGE ON A GLOBAL LEVEL

There are geospatial and geopolitical differences in energy, water, and food policies, status quo resource management, environmental regulations, economic

conditions, and resource (e.g., land and water) availability, all of which can provide opportunities or cause constraints across the nexus

Water Uses for Main Income Groups of Countries (2003)

Introduction to the Nexus

Source: Water for Energy, World Energy Council, 2010, Figure 3

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WATER DEMAND VARIES WITHIN AN AREA: AN EXAMPLE OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY OPTIONS

Life cycle water consumption across different fuel options can be used to compare water requirements and used to identify the best siting options for facilities according to water availability

Most of the water consumed (and withdrawn) by power plants is for cooling

Renewables, especially wind and solar PV, have very low water consumption (and withdrawal) rates

Source Meldrum, J., Nettles-Anderson, S., Heath, G., and Macknick, J. 2013. Life cycle water use for electricity generation: a review and harmonization of literatureestimates. Environmental Research Letters.

Introduction to the Nexus

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