Abstract
Local business leaders, policy makers, elected officials, city planners, emergency managers, and private citizens are responsible for, and deeply affected by, the performance of critical supply chains and related infrastructures. At the center of critical supply chains is the food-energy-water nexus (FEW); a nexus that is key to a community’s wellbeing, resilience, and sustainability. In the 21st century, managing a local FEW nexus requires accurate data describing the function and structure of a community’s supply chains. However, data is not enough; we need data-informed conversation and technical and social capacity building among local stakeholders to utilize the data effectively. There are some resources available at the mesoscale and for food, energy, or water, but many communities lack the data and tools needed to understand connections and bridge the gaps between these scales and systems. As a result, we currently lack the capacity to manage these systems in small and medium sized communities where the vast majority of people, decisions, and problems reside. This study develops and validates a participatory citizen science process for FEW nexus capacity building and data-driven problem solving in small communities at the grassroots level. The FEWSION for Community Resilience (F4R) process applies a Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR) framework to map supply chain data for a community’s FEW nexus, to identify the social network that manages the nexus, and then to generate a data-informed conversation among stakeholders. F4R was piloted and co-developed with participants over a 2-year study, using a design-based research process to make evidence-based adjustments as needed. Results show that the F4R model was successful at improving volunteers’ awareness about nexus and supply chain issues, at creating a network of connections and communication with stakeholders across state, regional, and local organizations, and in facilitating data-informed discussion about improvements to the system. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of F4R and discuss four recommendations for the successful application of the F4R model in other communities: 1) embed opportunities for co-created PPSR, 2) build social capital, 3) integrate active learning strategies with user-friendly digital tools, and 4) adopt existing materials and structure.
Highlights
In the face of increasing climate uncertainty and potential scarcity of ecosystem services on which people’s lives depend, scientists, citizens, commodity providers, and decision makers must better understand and manage the complex interactions between humans and the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus (Scanlon et al, 2017)
In this paper we describe the design and implementation of F4R and discuss four recommendations for the successful application of the F4R model in other communities: 1) embed opportunities for co-created Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR), 2) build social capital, FEWSION for Community Resilience
In this paper we describe the design and implementation of the F4R model, and explore two research questions regarding the validity of this model for improving two aspects of community capacity that are crucial for building resilience: 1) to what extent did the F4R model generate sufficient last mile data to satisfy scientific requirements?; and 2) to what extent did the F4R model build the community’s ability and willingness to use data to manage FEW systems at the local level?
Summary
In the face of increasing climate uncertainty and potential scarcity of ecosystem services on which people’s lives depend, scientists, citizens, commodity providers, and decision makers must better understand and manage the complex interactions between humans and the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus (Scanlon et al, 2017). Understanding last mile logistics can be critical for decisions that affect the provision of local resources This includes policies, plans, and actions made by private, public, and non-profit organizations. Effective management of the FEW nexus requires research into the dynamics and data gaps of this complex system (Ringler et al, 2013; Rushforth and Ruddell, 2018; Lant et al, 2019). Users can select specific commodities as well as analytics to better understand the footprint, vulnerabilities, strengths, and dependencies for their county and state FEW systems
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
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