Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the impact of rice-based food security on water, energy, land, and CO2 emissions from a holistic point of view using the Nexus approach, which analyzes tradeoffs between water, energy, and food management. In Japan, both rice consumption and the area harvested for rice have decreased. Maintaining a high self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) in rice production is an important aspect of food security in Japan, impacting the management of key resources, such as water, energy, and land. This study has, therefore, assessed the impact of various SSRs on rice production, focusing on consumption and land-use trends. First, the rice production SSR is predicted to drop to 87% by 2025 within the logarithmic trend of rice consumption and the polynomial trend line of the harvested area of rice. This reflects the fact that rice production is expected to decline more steeply than consumption between 2016 and 2025. Second, this study sets the SSRs for rice in 2025 between 80% and 100%, reflecting a range of low-to-high food security levels. In comparison with the 2016 baseline, about 0.70 × 10 6 additional tons of rice will be produced. Achieving a rice production SSR of 100% will require 10,195 × 10 6 m3 more of water and 23.31 × 10 6 GJ more of energy. Furthermore, an additional 283,000 tons of CO2 will be emitted in 2025, as more energy is used. By contrast, an 80% rice production SSR scenario would save 1482 × 10 6 m3 of water and 3.39 × 10 6 GJ of energy, as well as making a 398,000-ton reduction in CO2 emissions in 2015. A lower SSR would have a positive impact on resource management but a negative impact on food security. It would also reduce the income and economic status of farmers. It is, therefore, important to consider the tradeoffs between food security and resource savings in order to achieve sustainable water, energy, food, and land management in Japan.
Highlights
In a 2015 World Economic Forum report, water, food crises, and energy demands were regarded as the main future risk concerns
Adjustments made to rice self-sufficiency are directly related to food security, and to other resources, such as water, energy, and land security
The aim of this study is to evaluate the holistic impact of the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) of rice in Japan using the Nexus approach
Summary
In a 2015 World Economic Forum report, water, food crises, and energy demands were regarded as the main future risk concerns. The increase of exports of expensive food products, including rice, is another Japanese government policy for agriculture In this situation, adjustments made to rice self-sufficiency are directly related to food security, and to other resources, such as water, energy, and land security. An increase in domestic rice production will lead to changes in water, energy, and land use It is, necessary to assess the tradeoff between food security and other resources such as water, energy, and land. Food management should include an assessment of food security policy, including changes to the food SSR, to gain a holistic perspective that takes water and energy security into consideration, as well as the environmental and socio-economic impact. Nexus is regarded as a decision support system that assesses the potential benefits of a holistic policy and regulation through analysis of the availability of resources, economic benefit, and environmental impacts
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
