Seminar series: Water, Energy, Land and Food Security. January 14

January 14, 2015
2.00 pm

International Seminar
“Land and water resources: balancing the needs for food and energy”

"The Food-Energy-Water Nexus: A Multi-scale Bioeconomic Perspective"

Mario Giampietro (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona)

Abstract: The nexus between energy, food, water, and land use has recently been put on the front burner of the sustainability discussion. The analysis of this nexus requires us to address the epistemological implications of complexity: How to integrate quantitative assessments referring to different dimensions and scales of analysis? The Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM), an innovative method of accounting, can be used to this purpose. Applications of this approach are presented, including scenarios of change for biofuel production from sugarcane in Mauritius and for the productive matrix in Ecuador.

"Virtual water exports from land acquisitions in Africa"

Emma Li Johansson (Lund University)

Abstract: Since the early 2000s there has been a boom in long-term and large-scale land acquisitions globally. This study focuses on Africa since it’s the most targeted region. The areas that are currently in production are converted to water demand by using modeled results from LPJmL, and then visualized as virtual exports of water to the regions where the investing companies originate. The water consumption is then related to the water availability of the targeted area, to highlight areas where an increased water use is more and less suitable.

Venue

Room Tafuri, Palazzo Badoer

San Polo 2468

IUAV University of Venice

 Programme

 Seminar abstract

The seminar is part of the series “Water, energy, land and food security. The challenge of large-scale land acquisitions” that will run from October 2014 to January 2015. 

Organized by The School of Doctorate of the University of Venice IUAV and the Department of Design and Planning in Complex Environment in collaboration with Venice International University. 

With the endorsement of: INEA, National Institute of Agricultural Economics, Comitato Expo Venezia, Enel Foundation

Participation is free of charge. Please register here.

For further information follow this link
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