Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs
Network analysis, similar to the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, facilitates the understanding of complex interdependencies and supports more effective decision-making. By mapping relationships, it identifies key nodes, vulnerabilities, and intervention points, informing improved resource management...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2549483 |
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| author | Thulani Ningi Amon Taruvinga Leocadia Zhou Saul Ngarava |
| author_facet | Thulani Ningi Amon Taruvinga Leocadia Zhou Saul Ngarava |
| author_sort | Thulani Ningi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Network analysis, similar to the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, facilitates the understanding of complex interdependencies and supports more effective decision-making. By mapping relationships, it identifies key nodes, vulnerabilities, and intervention points, informing improved resource management and sustainability. This study analysed data from 655 households in Amathole District Municipality, South Africa, using household systematic network analysis. The dominant FEW nexus trade-offs were labour use, transportation use, and income use. Significant positive relationships were found between transportation and income use (p = 0.361) and between income and labour (p = 0.225), while a negative relationship existed between labour and transportation use (p = 0.157). Income use exhibited the highest strength (p = 0.872) and expected influence (p = 1.117). Regarding synergies, solar energy and transportation use were dominant. Transportation (p = 0.651), water-saving techniques (p = 2.165), and solar energy pumps (p = 1.258) demonstrated strong synergies within the F-W, W-E, and F-E networks, respectively. Household systematic network analysis can enhance FEW nexus models by providing insights into synergies and trade-offs. Policymakers should prioritize income, transportation, and animal waste utilization to optimize food, energy and water resource management. Additionally, promoting solar pumps and water-saving techniques is recommended to strengthen food, energy and water security. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf0d34a1435944b59f6ade236eac16a5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2331-1886 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf0d34a1435944b59f6ade236eac16a52025-08-22T10:51:35ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862025-12-0111110.1080/23311886.2025.2549483Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offsThulani Ningi0Amon Taruvinga1Leocadia Zhou2Saul Ngarava3Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Agribusiness, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South AfricaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Agribusiness, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South AfricaCentre for Global Change, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South AfricaSchool of Natural Science, College of Health and Natural Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United KingdomNetwork analysis, similar to the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus, facilitates the understanding of complex interdependencies and supports more effective decision-making. By mapping relationships, it identifies key nodes, vulnerabilities, and intervention points, informing improved resource management and sustainability. This study analysed data from 655 households in Amathole District Municipality, South Africa, using household systematic network analysis. The dominant FEW nexus trade-offs were labour use, transportation use, and income use. Significant positive relationships were found between transportation and income use (p = 0.361) and between income and labour (p = 0.225), while a negative relationship existed between labour and transportation use (p = 0.157). Income use exhibited the highest strength (p = 0.872) and expected influence (p = 1.117). Regarding synergies, solar energy and transportation use were dominant. Transportation (p = 0.651), water-saving techniques (p = 2.165), and solar energy pumps (p = 1.258) demonstrated strong synergies within the F-W, W-E, and F-E networks, respectively. Household systematic network analysis can enhance FEW nexus models by providing insights into synergies and trade-offs. Policymakers should prioritize income, transportation, and animal waste utilization to optimize food, energy and water resource management. Additionally, promoting solar pumps and water-saving techniques is recommended to strengthen food, energy and water security.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2549483Network analysisfood-energy-water nexustrade-offssynergieshousehold levelAgriculture and food |
| spellingShingle | Thulani Ningi Amon Taruvinga Leocadia Zhou Saul Ngarava Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs Cogent Social Sciences Network analysis food-energy-water nexus trade-offs synergies household level Agriculture and food |
| title | Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs |
| title_full | Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs |
| title_fullStr | Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs |
| title_short | Household systematic network analysis for achieving the food-energy-water nexus in South Africa: exploring the relationship between FEW nexus synergies and trade-offs |
| title_sort | household systematic network analysis for achieving the food energy water nexus in south africa exploring the relationship between few nexus synergies and trade offs |
| topic | Network analysis food-energy-water nexus trade-offs synergies household level Agriculture and food |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2025.2549483 |
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