The water-food-energy nexus is essential for sustainable development. An increasing global population; industrialization; and fluctuations in economic growth have upset the security of all three of these vital domains of life. The agricultural sector is the epicenter of food production for over 60 percent of world’s population, who rely on it for their subsistence. Furthermore, successful agriculture consumes the largest amount of fresh water and around a quarter of global energy. Hence, it is important to find a suitable balance or an integrated approach regarding these three critical domains to guarantee enough food and energy production without leading to water shortage worldwide. The focus of this Special Issue is to publish original, in-depth research papers and short reviews addressing the recent progress in the area of the water-food-energy nexus for sustainable development using the biomaterials. The Special Issue will cover topics where fundamental research is being conducted on biomaterials, especially related to natural polymers and their nanoforms (e.g., cellulose, nanocellulose, chitin, guar gum, protein, and amino acid), applied to food-, water-, and energy-related areas. Specifically, it will include advanced applications such as water purification, composite materials, energy storage, membranes, bioscaffolds, sensing materials, and food production. Original research papers related to the above topics, comprising innovative methods, advanced structural characterization, practical solutions, and the current state of emerging technologies in the field, are highly encouraged.
Keywords: biomaterials; water; energy; food; sustainable development; biopolymers.