We are part of a UK collaborative project in which we are exploring the scaling-up of innovations which address the increasing challenges of integrated water, energy and food systems.

At a glance

STEPPING UP is one of three projects comprising a £4.5 million investment by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This is to safeguard the UK’s water, energy and food security, involving inter-disciplinary groups of scientists based at 19 universities and research institutes.

Water and energy are needed to produce food; water is required to produce energy and with the advent of biofuels, energy and food are increasingly competing for land. This means that any shortage or disruption of one resource will impact on the other two and this unbreakable link is known as the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus.

With threats like climate change and increasing urbanisation, there is a need for a step-change to put the UK on a sustainable WEF pathway.

Progress update

We will create a simulation of real-world innovation case studies which improve impact across WEF systems; to determine where and how such sustainable innovations could be scaled-up through improved policymaking and by the use of decision support aids. Our modelling will produce big data insights for the UK which will be shared with industry, government and wider society.

Associated Publications

Anaerobic digestion: a prime solution for water, energy and food nexus challenges.

Engaging stakeholders in research to address water-energy-food (WEF) nexus challenges.

Further information

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