Sustainable design of water–energy–food nexus: a literature review

Abstract

One of the most agreed upon definitions of sustainability states that in order to achieve a sustainable development, the needs of the present must be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Yet, the accomplishment of this target has its own challenges given the high growth of human population. All human beings require water, energy, and food in order to survive. The aim, then, is to satisfy these requirements through an adequate distribution of resources. The objective of this article is to explore, through a literature review, the application of the concept of sustainable design of the water–energy–food nexus. It is important to design supply chains that are as sustainable as possible while also fulfilling basic human needs.