Managing the food, water and energy nexus

TODAY, some 100 undergraduate students from seven Asian countries are meeting in Singapore to discuss the increasingly complex issue of how to manage three important resources of the world: food, energy and water. This discussion will take place within the framework of the first Asian Undergraduate Summit organised by the NUS Students' University Scholars Club.

According to the United Nations, the global population is projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050 from an estimated 7.3 billion now. This means within the next 35 years, adequate energy, clean water and nutritious food have to be made available for an additional 2.3 billion people. The problem is not as simple as it may appear at first sight.

Currently at least 805 million people suffer from chronic undernourishment, 1.1 billion people do not have access to electricity and 3.5 billion do not have clean water to drink. Accordingly, by 2050 enough additional resources have to be provided to not only the newcomers but also the people who currently do not have proper access to them.