Water-Food-CarbonNexusRelatedtothe Producer–ConsumerLink:AReview

Abstract

Clarifying the water-food-carbon nexus is key to promoting the harmonious development of human society and environmental resources. The sustainabledevelopmentofagriculturalproductionsystemsisbeingchallengedbywaterscarcityandclimatechange.Cropgrowthandirrigation consume large amounts of water, and greenhouse gases are generated due to processes such as fertilizer application and enteric fermentation. Theseenvironmentalimpactsaccompanytheagriculturalproductionprocessandarethusembeddedintheentirelifecycleofdiversefooditems; in turn, consumers’food choices indirectly impact water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing agricultural water consumption andgreenhousegasemissionsduringfoodproductionhavebecomecrucialissuesinmitigatingtheprojectedwater,climate,andfoodcrises.From the consumer’s perspective, diets vary regionally due to different natural conditions for food production and varying socioeconomic and income levels.Thisreviewdelvesintotheinteractionsbetweendietanditspotentialenvironmentalimpacts,includingwaterconsumptionandgreenhouse gasemissions,inordertosupportfurtherdevelopmentofthewater-food-carbonnexus