System dynamics model of sustainable water resources management using the Nexus Water-Food-Energy approach

Abstract

This research has investigated the simulation of sustainable water resources management to assess the impact of socio-economic development on water, food and energy resources security in Khuzestan Province in Iran. To achieve this goal, after simulation of the water-food-energy system dynamics model, taking into account results of the sensitivity analysis, development of water resources sustainability policy-making was elaborated in the form of four strategies of water demand, water supply, food resource and energy demand management, as well as combined policies. The simulation results of the proposed solutions were selected to be a combination of the strategies of water demand and food resources management as the best policies. Hence, 16% increase in irrigation efficiency, 10% improvement in cultivation patterns, 6% reduction in agricultural products losses, 5% decrease in food demand due to food losses, and 5% annual increase in the performance of agriculture are selected as sustainable water resources management policies.

Keywords

• Sustainable water resources management
• Resource security
• System dynamics (SD)
• Nexus Water-Food-Energy (WFE)