Gaps in Water, Energy, and Food Nexus Frameworks

This chapter explores the four research gapsResearch gap within the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus frameworks initiated within the last ten years. The chapter explores the concepts of Cleaner ProductionCleaner production, Value ChainValue chain Analysis, Circular EconomyCircular economy, and Transportation InfrastructureTransportation infrastructure. It provided a conceptual review of the gaps, their principles, and their approaches, as well as a discourse into the measures of the gaps. Moreover, the chapter espoused the application of the Four gaps within the Water, Energy, and Food nexus, highlighting the role of Digital TechnologiesDigital technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in optimizing the WEF nexusWEF nexus for sustainable resource security. The chapter highlighted how digital technologiesDigital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, Virtual/Augmented Reality Technology, and Digital Twin can aid in generating and optimizing real-time data for diagnosing, preventivePreventive capabilities, predictivePredictive capabilities, and prescriptive capabilitiesPrescriptive capabilities. The chapter concluded that the four gaps encompass different sustainability dimensions, buttressing the goal of the WEF nexusWEF nexus in ensuring sustainable resource security.