Your search found 3 records
1 Goldin, J.; Nhamo, L.; Ncube, B.; Zvimba, J. N.; Petja, B.; Mpandeli, S.; Nomquphu, W.; Hlophe-Ginindza, S.; Greeff-Laubscher, M. R.; Molose, V.; Lottering, S.; Liphadzi, S.; Naidoo, D.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2022. Resilience and sustainability of the water sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability, 14(3):1482. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031482]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050969)
(5.37 MB) (5.37 MB)
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented socio-economic changes, ushering in a “new (ab)normal” way of living and human interaction. The water sector was not spared from the effects of the pandemic, a period in which the sector had to adapt rapidly and continue providing innovative water and sanitation solutions. This study unpacks and interrogates approaches, products, and services adopted by the water sector in response to the unprecedented lockdowns, heralding novel terrains, and fundamental paradigm shifts, both at the community and the workplace. The study highlights the wider societal perspective regarding the water and sanitation challenges that grappled society before, during, after, and beyond the pandemic. The premise is to provide plausible transitional pathways towards a new (ab)normal in adopting new models, as evidenced by the dismantling of the normal way of conducting business at the workplace and human interaction in an era inundated with social media, virtual communication, and disruptive technologies, which have transitioned absolutely everything into a virtual way of life. As such, the novel approaches have fast-tracked a transition into the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), with significant trade-offs to traditional business models and human interactions.
2 Nhamo, L.; Mpandeli, S.; Liphadzi, S.; Hlophe-Ginindza, S.; Kapari, M.; Molwantwa, J.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. Advances in water research: enhancing sustainable water use in irrigated agriculture in South Africa. In Ting, D. S.-K.; O’Brien, P. G. (Eds.). Progress in sustainable development: sustainable engineering practices. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp.233-248. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99207-7.00007-5]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051822)
(0.39 MB)
Water scarcity has become one of the greatest challenges facing humankind today. Its scarcity is compounded by climate change and increasing demand from a growing population. In South Africa, over 60% of the available freshwater resources are used in agriculture, mainly in irrigated agriculture. There is an urgent need to promote sustainable irrigation technologies that optimize food production without increasing water applied and with positive environmental spinoffs. Sustainable irrigation technologies and practices could enhance water use efficiency (WUE) and productivity in agriculture and reduce environmental burdens, including energy use. This chapter highlights some of the innovative irrigation practices and technologies that enhance food production and, at the same time, reduce water use in agriculture. The chapter broadly discusses WUE and water productivity (WP) in irrigated agriculture from engineering and agronomic perspectives. The chapter further highlights some of the environmental impacts of irrigation expansion and the possible solutions. We further provide the importance of accurate spatial information on irrigated areas to inform policy on irrigation expansion. The Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa has been spearheading research on the sustainable use of water for the past 50 years as part of its research agenda.
3 Nhamo, L.; Mpandeli, S.; Liphadzi, S.; Hlophe-Ginindza, S.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2024. Transitional pathways towards sustainable food systems. In Nhamo, L.; Mpandeli, S.; Liphadzi, S.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. (Eds.). Circular and transformative economy: advances towards sustainable socio-economic transformation. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press. pp.60-77. (Africa Circular Economy Series) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003327615-4]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052575)
(1.23 MB) (1.23 MB)
Today’s grand challenges, including climate change, resource depletion and degradation, migration, and the emergence of novel pests and diseases, are somehow linked to food systems. The broad interlinkages among these challenges require transformational planning that brings change, enhances adaptation and reduces human and environmental health risks. This chapter applied nexus planning, a transformative approach, to establish the interconnectedness of food systems and developed a framework to guide strategic policy formulations that enhance resource use efficiency, reduce waste in the environment, and ultimately achieve a circular economy. This was achieved through sustainability indicators to provide quantitative transitional pathways that lead to the circular economy in the food value chain. An outline of the available options is given to enhance sustainable food systems, highlighting priority areas for intervention and balancing socio-ecological interactions. The premise was to achieve sustainable food systems by analysing food system components in an integrated manner. Achieving socio-ecological sustainability reduces the risk posed by global environmental change and ensures the continued provision of ecosystem services. Sustainable food systems are a catalyst for achieving socio-ecological balance, and their success hinges on circular modelling and transformative planning.
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