Research Article // Multi-dimensional Assessment of the Water-Food Nexus in a Semi-Arid Watershed
By Özel et al. This study presents a holistic water-food nexus assessment for the Upper Sakarya Watershed, integrating hydrological modelling, economic feasibility, and stakeholder perspectives to evaluate sustainable agricultural water management strategies under climate change pressures.
Abstract
The availability of water is crucial for ensuring global food security, particularly in regions most affected by climate change. Understanding the trade-offs and synergies between the availability of water and the food sector is crucial for ensuring water and food security.
This study employs a holistic approach to aid decision-makers in the water and food sectors for developing sustainable strategies in Upper Sakarya Watershed located in a semi-arid region dominated by agricultural activities. Several agricultural water management scenarios are assessed based on various criteria: i) water budget at the basin scale, ii) economic feasibility, and iii) stakeholder opinions. The WEAP model was used to evaluate the hydrological analysis of management scenarios. In addition, socioeconomic analyses and stakeholder perspectives on the management scenarios are incorporated into the integrated investigation of the water-food nexus.
The most effective scenario in terms of water consumption relative to the baseline scenario can result in a reduction of 60 million m3 of irrigation water per year. According to the economic analysis, significant contributions to the farmer’s income by €5.4–13.5 per m3 of water use compared to reference scenarios can be achieved by the most feasible scenarios. The most effective scenarios show parallel trends between water conservation and positive economic contribution. Moreover, stakeholders anticipated that the implementation and sustainability of the most effective scenarios can be vulnerable to technical, practical, and political constraints. This holistic approach demonstrated the need for a multi-dimensional assessment of the water-food nexus that incorporates the perspective of stakeholders.
Published
11 March 2026
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Özel et al. (2026): Multi-dimensional Assessment of the Water-Food Nexus in a Semi-Arid Watershed