Input-Output Multiobjective Optimization Approach for Food-Energy-Water Nexus

Abstract

Food, energy and water are essential for human survival. These resources consume each other thus enhancing security in one resource can reduce security in another resource. Multiobjective optimization approaches have been used to understand the complexity associated with the Food, Energy Water (FEW) Nexus. However most of these approaches focus on either maximizing resource production or minimizing resource consumption in the FEW Nexus but not addressing the two simultaneously. To achieve sustainability of the FEW Nexus sustainable consumption and production of the resources need to be emphasized. In this paper, the Input-Output theory is used to develop a multiobjective optimization approach that minimises resource intensities. Minimising resource intensities results into minimised consumption and maximised production of resources in the nexus. Using the developed approach simulations are carried out to demonstrate its applicability in FEW Nexus. The results show that the approach can be used to explore alternative ways of minimizing consumption and maximizing production simultaneously based on the concept of non-dominated solutions.