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Water-Energy-Food Nexus Approach to Assess Crop Trading in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammad Tamim Kashifi

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Fahad Saleh Mohammed Al-Ismail

    (Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
    Electrical Engineering Department and K.A.CARE Energy Research & Innovation Center, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Shakhawat Chowdhury

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
    Interdisciplinary Research Center for Construction and Building Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hassan M. Baaqeel

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Md Shafiullah

    (Interdisciplinary Research Center for Renewable Energy and Power Systems, Dahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Surya Prakash Tiwari

    (Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Syed Masiur Rahman

    (Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Water scarcity is a global challenge, especially in arid regions, including Middle Eastern and North African countries. The distribution of water around the earth is not even. Trading water in the form of an embedded commodity, known as the water footprint ( WF ), from water-abundant regions to water-scarce regions, is a viable solution to water scarcity problems. Agricultural products account for approximately 85% of the earth’s total WF , indicating that importing water-intense crops, such as cereal crops, can partially solve the local water scarcity problem. This study investigated water, energy, and food nexus dynamics for the trades of a few major crops, specifically considering Saudi Arabia. It analyzed the trade of crops and its impact on WF , energy, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emission savings. The findings revealed that importing major cereal crops to Saudi Arabia could significantly reduce the local WF . The imports of wheat, maize, rice, and barley reduced approximately 24 billion m 3 per year of consumable WF (i.e., blue and green water footprint) in the global scale. Similarly, the trade of major crops had a significant impact on energy and CO 2 emission savings. The energy savings from the wheat, maize, and barley trades in Saudi Arabia was estimated to be approximately 9 billion kWh. It also saved about 7 million tons per year of CO 2 emissions. The trades of cereal crops in Saudi Arabia reduced water consumption, energy usage, and CO 2 emissions significantly.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Tamim Kashifi & Fahad Saleh Mohammed Al-Ismail & Shakhawat Chowdhury & Hassan M. Baaqeel & Md Shafiullah & Surya Prakash Tiwari & Syed Masiur Rahman, 2022. "Water-Energy-Food Nexus Approach to Assess Crop Trading in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3494-:d:772579
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    References listed on IDEAS

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