Design of biomass value chains that are synergistic with the food–energy–water nexus: Strategies and opportunities

Authors

• John Frederick D. Tapia
• Sheila Samsatli, University of Bath
• Stephen S. Doliente, University of Bath
• Elias Martinez-Hernandez, Mexican Institute of Petroleum
• Wan Azlina Binti Wan Ab Karim Ghani, University Putra Malaysia
• Kean Long Lim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
• Helmi Zulhaidi Mohd Shafri, Universiti Putra Malaysia
• Nur Shafira Nisa Binti Shaharum, Universiti Putra Malaysia

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Chemical Engineering

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Food and Bioproducts Processing

Volume

116

Abstract

Humanity’s future sustainable supply of energy, fuels and materials is aiming towards renewable sources such as biomass. Several studies on biomass value chains (BVCs) have demonstrated the feasibility of biomass in replacing fossil fuels. However, many of the activities along the chain can disrupt the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus, given that these resource systems have been ever more interlinked due to increased global population and urbanization. Essentially, the design of BVCs has to integrate the systems-thinking approach of the FEW nexus; such that, existing concerns on food, water and energy security, as well as the interactions of the BVCs with the nexus, can be incorporated in future policies. To date, there has been little to no literature that captures the synergistic opportunities between BVCs and the FEW nexus. This paper presents the first survey of process systems engineering approaches for the design of BVCs, focusing on whether and how these approaches considered synergies with the FEW nexus. Among the surveyed mathematical models, the approaches include multi-stage supply chain, temporal and spatial integration, multi-objective optimization, and uncertainty-based risk management. Although the majority of current studies are more focused on the economic impacts of BVCs, the mathematical tools can be remarkably useful in addressing critical sustainability issues in BVCs. Thus, future research directions must capture the details of food–energy–water interactions with the BVCs, together with the development of more insightful multi-scale, multi-stage, multi-objective, and uncertainty-based approaches.

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Recommended Citation

Tapia, J. D., Samsatli, S., Doliente, S. S., Martinez-Hernandez, E., Binti Wan Ab Karim Ghani, W., Lim, K., Mohd Shafri, H., & Binti Shaharum, N. (2026). Design of biomass value chains that are synergistic with the food–energy–water nexus: Strategies and opportunities. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 116 Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/15118

Disciplines

Chemical Engineering

Keywords

Biomass; Biomass energy

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