Decision-making tools for sustainable planning and conceptual framework for the energy–water–food nexus

Abstract The impact assessment of energy strategies, more specifically those that promote an integrated approach on resource management in other sectors such as water and food, requires knowledge related to the evaluation of the quality and knowledge that may be estimated by quantitative means. The present paper makes inquiries into those knowledge requirements in addition to review the means used to obtain it—including the required entries and the results they provide. In response to the recognized problems in knowledge, this paper introduces a basic reference structure underlying a system to evaluate the way that a progressive development of inexhaustible energies in a particular geographical region can affect the demand of water and food. Then, the proposed conceptual framework constitutes a novel approach for energy policy makers which only consider partial impacts of the energy management. By considering the nexus of energy, water and food, energy management policies may be redefined and differences with current policies must be investigated.