Write a Report

Task Description: There is increasing global recognition of the interconnectedness between food, energy, and water. Understanding and effective management of this critical nexus are key to sustainable long-term food security, water resource availability, and energy production. Select a government policy document addressing a key global challenge in agriculture, agribusiness, food sciences or rural development that is related to the water-energy-food nexus. The policy document can be an Australian or international policy but should be available in English. Policy Critique For the Policy Critique, select a government policy document addressing an issue related to the water-energy-food nexus. The policy document can be an Australian or international policy. Prepare a written critique (less than or equal to 2,500 words excluding references) of the selected policy based on course lecture content and independent literature review. In your policy critique, you should: Outline the policy issue and the desired outcome following implementation of the selected policy. Provide context for the policy - this can include history, any changes and key stakeholders, etc. What does the responsible government body hope to achieve as a result of this policy? Review linkages between your selected policy and others related to the food security, water and energy nexus. Does the selected policy represent a nexus approach, addressing linkages among food, water, energy and the environment? Does the policy approach the management of water, energy, food or the environment independently without consideration of the relationships among food, water and energy? How does your selected policy relate to others addressing the food-water-energy nexus from the same government or agency? Assess the scientific basis of your selected policy using references from the scientific literature. Does the selected policy document demonstrate a strong linkage between science and decision-making? Does the plan or strategy outlined in your selected policy align with the best available related scientific information? Where is it scientifically defensible and where could the policy be strengthened or improved through greater adoption of scientific research results? Compare your selected policy with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. How well does your selected policy align with the UN MDGs? Evaluate the potential long-term impacts of implementing your selected policy on sustainability within the water-energy-food nexus. Consider: How might increasing globalisation affect the successful implementation of this policy? What is the expected effect of this policy on the availability and use of energy resources? How might implementation of the selected policy impact food security, or the allocation and use of water resources? Clearly outline any proposed changes to your selected policy, including evidence to support the need for the proposed changes, or provide evidence to support no change to the existing policy. What changes could be made to the selected policy that would reduce trade-offs and build synergies across linked sectors (water, energy, food and the environment)? What (additional) institutional capacity would be required to implement the proposed changes?