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Powering Resilience: Why the Water–Energy-Food Nexus Demands Our Leadership

Abstract:
The growing interdependence between energy, water and food systems presents both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainable development. As global demand for both resources intensifies amid climate change and resource constraints, understanding the energy–water-food nexus is crucial. This article highlights how energy efficiency, smart technologies, and sustainable practices can strengthen food security while reducing the environmental impact of food production and distribution. It also explores the role of energy professionals in advancing integrated solutions that optimise energy use across agricultural value chains from irrigation and cold storage to processing and transport. As members of the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC), we are uniquely positioned to drive innovation and collaboration at the intersection of energy, water and food systems. Unlocking the synergies within this nexus is not only key to climate resilience, but also vital for achieving equitable access to food and energy in South Africa and beyond.

The growing interdependence between water, energy and food systems presents both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainable development. As global demand for these essential resources intensifies amid climate shocks, economic volatility, and mounting inequality, understanding, and operationalising the water–energy-food (WEF) nexus has become not just a technical ambition, but a socio-political imperative. This was one of the central messages reiterated at the inaugural Water Efficiency Technical Conference held on 20 May 2025, a much-needed platform that convened professionals from water utilities, research and academic institutions, engineers, consultants, the private sector, and government. The event came at a critical juncture, as South Africa confronts one of its most pressing challenges: a worsening water crisis exacerbated by climate change and decades of underinvestment in infrastructure. But the conference was not just a forum for dialogue, it was a call to action. If South Africa is to secure a sustainable and equitable water future, we must urgently accelerate cross-sector collaboration, leverage the full potential of the WEF nexus, and ensure our solutions are both climate-smart and socially resilient.

In the last quarter of 2024, the agricultural sector, including agro processing, contributed more than 14% to South Africa’s GDP. It is also the largest consumer of water, significantly outstripping other sectors. Agriculture alone accounts for more than 50% of the country’s water use globally; that figure reaches 70%. This puts agriculture at the heart of the nexus and makes it a priority sector for any meaningful intervention in energy and water efficiency. But the nexus is not just a concept, it is a system of interlinked vulnerabilities. Water is needed to generate energy, energy is needed to pump, treat, and distribute water, and both are indispensable for food production. When one system is strained, the others follow. Drought reduces hydropower output and irrigation potential. Load shedding disrupts water purification and refrigeration. Food price spikes can be traced back to fuel and electricity tariffs, climate shocks, and water scarcity. The connections are undeniable and increasingly urgent. This is where SAEEC members come in. Energy professionals are not only experts in efficiency and technology they are system thinkers, capable of bridging technical, economic, and environmental divides. Our sector is uniquely positioned to drive integrated solutions that optimise energy use across the entire agricultural value chain, from energy-efficient irrigation systems and precision agriculture to cold storage powered by renewables, to off-grid solar-powered borehole systems and resource-efficient agroprocessing.

Are we ready to lead? We cannot afford to remain siloed in our disciplines. We need professionals who can understand how irrigation practices affect energy demand, how energy load profiles impact food storage and processing, and how water constraints alter energy planning decisions. Currently, the ability to operate across the water–energy-food nexus is not just useful, it is pivotal. SAEEC must continue to cultivate this kind of thinking. We need to support training programmes, professional exchanges, research partnerships, and policy engagements that position energy efficiency at the core of integrated resource planning.

Energy efficiency is no longer about reducing kilowatt-hours or cutting utility bills. It is about resilience, about ensuring that our systems, our communities, and our economy can withstand and adapt to future shocks. By aligning energy interventions with water availability and food security priorities, we create co-benefits, lowering emissions while enhancing food system sustainability, improving grid stability while ensuring uninterrupted water supply, creating local green jobs while reducing vulnerability to climate risks. And these are not theoretical benefits. We have already seen local examples where decentralised solar systems have reduced diesel reliance in irrigation; where retrofitted cooling systems have improved both energy and food storage efficiency, and where integrated audits across agro-industrial parks have led to cost-effective improvements in both water and energy use. The water–energy–food nexus is not a buzzword. It is a framework for designing the future. It is also a call to the SAEEC community to lead that design. As energy professionals, we must step into the space of convergence. We must move beyond isolated efficiencies and towards systemic innovation. The solutions that lie ahead are not in the hands of one sector alone, but in our ability to work across disciplines, policy spaces, and technologies. Let us seize this moment to reimagine our roles, not just as Engineers, Scientists, practitioners, technicians, and analysts, but as enablers of resilience, equity, and transformation. Because if we are not the ones to lead the water–energy-food nexus in South Africa, then who will?

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Lesego Gargane

SAEEC Board member

Lesego Gaegane is a sustainability professional with 17 years of experience in various sectors of the Industrial Policy Action Plan. She holds an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Energy Leadership. Throughout her career, she has played a crucial role in the successful implementation of numerous projects focused on energy management, water efficiency, and resource management. For the past 16 years, Lesego has primarily led transformative initiatives in energy, water, and resource efficiency, providing strategic guidance to both private enterprises and public institutions. Her efforts have helped organisations adopt advanced practices that improve operational efficiency while aligning with global sustainability objectives.

Grounded in the principles of environmental, social, and governance (ESG), Lesego has made significant contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. With a strong capability to integrate strategic vision with effective execution, she excels in leadership roles that drive innovation and sustainable impact. Lesego has a proven ability to motivate teams, influence policy, and engage diverse stakeholders, which has been instrumental in fostering a culture of sustainability within organisations. In her role, she has acted as a catalyst for policy change within private companies, facilitating their transition to sustainable development principles and practices. Her expertise has been pivotal in driving the adoption of sustainable methodologies, ensuring that businesses not only comply with environmental regulations but also thrive through increased efficiency and productivity.

Lesego is an active member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Society for Ecological Restoration. Additionally, she is part of the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition’s Women in Energy Expert Platform and is a member of the Circular Economy Club. Her commitment to energy management is further evidenced by her 15-year membership in the Southern African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC), where she currently serves on the board and has contributed to advancing energy efficiency standards and practices within South Africa. Lesego’s leadership also extends to her role as the South African Lead of the Lesotho/South Africa NatSilt/ICM committee, where she oversees joint water security projects. Her work in this area is crucial for ensuring sustainable water management and security in a region facing significant environmental challenges.

Dedicated to the development of young professionals in the environmental sustainability sector, Lesego actively engages in mentorship programmes, sharing her knowledge and experience to foster the next generation of sustainability leaders.  Lesego’s career is characterised by her unwavering commitment to sustainable development, her strategic influence on policy and practice, and her dedication to mentoring future professionals.

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DECARBONISATION FOR INDUSTRY & MINING: A PRACTICAL PATHWAY FOR ENERGY PROFESSIONALS

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2025 SAEEC 20th Annual Conference

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NOMINATE HERE FOR SAEEC ENERGY AWARDS

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