Assessing the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in Smart Irrigation: A Potato Farming Case Study in Lebanon

Abstract

This study examines the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in Lebanese agriculture, with a focus on the shift from conventional surface irri-gation techniques to advanced smart irrigation systems in the Bekaa region, specifically targeting potato cultivation. The study quantitatively analyzes the interaction among water, energy, and agricultural outputs at the farm scale us-ing the WEFE Nexus framework for scenario analysis. It evaluates variations in water productivity, environmental effects, and economic outcomes, offering a detailed view of existing practices and their sustainable improvement poten-tial. The WEFE Nexus assessment demonstrates that smart irrigation integra-tion significantly decreased resource usage: water consumption was reduced by 58%, diesel fuel use for irrigation dropped by 57%, and the demand for labor and fertilizers decreased by 47% and 49%, respectively. This change led to en-hanced crop yields and increased resource efficiency, demonstrating the po-tential of smart irrigation as a transformative strategy for sustainable agricul-ture in Lebanon and other arid areas. Economic analysis showed that farmers could recover the costs of installing the smart irrigation system within 3 months. The findings highlight the need for further research on integrating smart irrigation with renewable energy, showing potential for sustainable ag-ricultural development.