Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus

In this interview, James N. Nkhoswe reflects on a professional journey shaped by water quality, freshwater ecology, fisheries, aquaculture, and environmental management in Southern Africa. He explains how field experience in Malawi strengthened his interest in understanding water problems not as isolated measurements, but as catchment-scale challenges that connect ecosystems, food production, livelihoods and governance. Using the Bua River as a practical example, he discusses how agricultural expansion, deforestation, domestic waste disposal and changing land use can influence erosion, sediment and nutrient inputs, with consequences for aquatic ecosystems and communities that depend on the river. He highlights the value of combining field-based water-quality monitoring with satellite remote sensing, Earth observation and GIS to identify landscape change, potential pollution hotspots and areas where limited monitoring resources can be targeted more strategically. The interview also considers the Water-Energy-Food nexus, sustainable aquaculture, community participation and the institutional challenges involved in translating scientific evidence into practical water governance. Looking ahead, Nkhoswe sees strong potential in integrating satellite observations, low-cost sensors, cloud computing, field measurements and local knowledge, while stressing that technology should always respond to a clearly defined environmental problem. His advice to young professionals is to understand both the river and the technology: develop strong spatial and quantitative skills, but remain grounded in field realities, ecological processes and the perspectives of people who depend on freshwater systems.

The article discusses the use of space technology for the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. The nexus was formed to address issues surrounding the increasing demand for water, energy and food. Drivers of the nexus are, for example, an increasing population, urbanisation and economic development. The article aims to demonstrate the inclusive solutions and initiatives from organisations such as United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Group on Earth Observations (GEO). Globally available data for the nexus and especially data from satellite remote sensing are discussed. Several case studies for finding solutions related to the nexus are examined. The case studies discuss hydrological modelling, water scarcity, irrigation practices and crop monitoring. The Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model dataset and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument are used in these case studies. Satellite remote sensing products for the example case of the variable soil moisture are examined. Some of the leading missions for soil moisture are National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and European Space Agency (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS). The article mentions NASA Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) missions, as well as ESA Climate Change Initiative (CCI) programme. Future work aims at an integrated approach and at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this interview, James N. Nkhoswe reflects on a professional journey shaped by water quality, freshwater ecology, fisheries, aquaculture, and environmental management in Southern Africa. He explains how field experience in Malawi strengthened his interest in understanding water problems not as isolated measurements, but as catchment-scale challenges that connect ecosystems, food production, livelihoods and governance. Using the Bua River as a practical example, he discusses how agricultural expansion, deforestation, domestic waste disposal and changing land use can influence erosion, sediment and nutrient inputs, with consequences for aquatic ecosystems and communities that depend on the river. He highlights the value of combining field-based water-quality monitoring with satellite remote sensing, Earth observation and GIS to identify landscape change, potential pollution hotspots and areas where limited monitoring resources can be targeted more strategically. The interview also considers the Water-Energy-Food nexus, sustainable aquaculture, community participation and the institutional challenges involved in translating scientific evidence into practical water governance. Looking ahead, Nkhoswe sees strong potential in integrating satellite observations, low-cost sensors, cloud computing, field measurements and local knowledge, while stressing that technology should always respond to a clearly defined environmental problem. His advice to young professionals is to understand both the river and the technology: develop strong spatial and quantitative skills, but remain grounded in field realities, ecological processes and the perspectives of people who depend on freshwater systems.