Xylem Innovation Workshop // Water-Energy-Food Nexus
The Workshop brings together Xylem engineering, procurement and product management community and universities, incubators and suppliers to focus on how to approach the water-energy-food nexus in aquaculture in an interactive and open discussion methodology.
Where and when
Greentown Labs
Somerville MA
USA
14 June 2018
10am - 3.30pm (EDT)
Background
Water is a prerequisite for food production which requires also nutrients and energy. Vice versa alternative energy production by biogas plants is based on biomass derived from agriculture. Thus agricultural food production seems to be the most important integrative part concerning the water- energy-food nexus. Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing agriculture sectors meeting the increasing needs of the rapidly expanding global population for high quality animal proteins. Currently, worldwide production is focused on freshwater aquaculture of fish and is consequently competing for limited freshwater resources. Hence, particularly in the light of future development, aquaculture production is limited in land available for agricultural production and global freshwater reserves. The necessity towards minimizing resources (water, nutrient, energy) meeting sustainability requires urgently the introduction of new recently developed integrative concepts to achieve a sustainable connection of the water- energy-food nexus.
Focus
The Workshop will focus on the:
- partnerships;
- solutions;
- sharing of tools, indicators and methodologies; and
- Identification of gaps in the technology that need to be addressed.
The workshop will facilitate space for the development of collaborative work, it won’t be a Conference! It’s intended to be a moment when every participant will contribute on the discussion, sharing knowledge, experience and needs. And, of course, passion for Water and Water-related challenges!
Key challenges
- Agriculture will have to produce 30-50% more food by 2030 and Aquaculture is one of the sectors growing faster.
- Primary energy needs will increase by 40% by 2030
- Demand for water will exceed global availability by 40 % in 2030
- Global Ag investment themes (thru 2020) – Aquaculture
Participation
Workshop registration will open May 18th 2018 and close on June 7th 2018.
Register here with password XYLEMWATER