The Interrelation Between Food, Water and Energy in the Island of Crete, Greece

Water, energy, and food are critical resources for human well-being, and their demand is expected to increase in the future. These resources are interrelated and interdependent, while they are threatened by the climate crisis and their unsustainable management. Climate change is expected to increase water shortages on the island, while climate change mitigation requires the extensive use of renewable energy sources, which are abundant in Crete, instead of fossil fuels. The study of their nexus and their synergies is necessary for improving sustainability on the island of Crete, which hosts more than 6 million tourists annually. The nexus between water and energy, water and food, and energy and food in Crete has been consecutively studied. The findings indicate a strong relationship between water to food, energy to food, and energy to water. However, the relationship between water to energy and food to water is weak in Crete. The results could improve the management of these resources in Crete, avoiding their undesired shortage in the future, and they could be useful to public and municipal authorities, policy makers, and various stakeholders on the island who are related to these basic resources.