A tool for optimizing the water, energy, food and ecosystem service nexus amidst diverse stakeholder interests

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Date

2026-03-03

Date Issued

Contributes to SDGs

SDG 13 - Climate actionSDG 15 - Life on landSDG 17 - Partnerships for the goals

ISI Journal

Impact factor: 2.2 (Year: 2026)

Authors

Citation

Joren Verbist, Yigezu Yigezu, Akmal Akramkhanov. (3/3/2026). A tool for optimizing the water, energy, food and ecosystem service nexus amidst diverse stakeholder interests. International Journal of Water Resources Development.

Abstract

Climate change and population growth are intensifying pressures on agricultural resources, underscoring the need to optimize the water–energy–food–ecosystem (WEFE) nexus. This study applies the Stakeholder WEFE efficiency evaluation tool (SWEET) in Uzbekistan through key informant interviews with representatives from governmental departments managing water, energy, food and environmental sectors. Results reveal divergence and convergence of priorities across departments and sectors, respectively around soil cover, fuel consumption and food crop production. Non-food crops were however consistently deprioritized. SWEET supports the identification of shared priorities and potentially conflicting interests, thereby helping prevent rebound effects and building coherent WEFE governance.

Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/70635

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2026.2616038

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Agricultural Research Knowledge

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AGROVOC Keyword(s)

uzbekistan; policy coherence

Subject(s)

priority setting; multi-criteria decision making (mcdm); shared vision

Author(s) ORCID(s)

Verbist, Joren  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7808-9338
 Yigezu, Yigezu  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9156-7082
 Akramkhanov, Akmal  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4316-5580