Research through the WEF Nexus approach and water security

bibliometric analysis and systematic review of the literature in Brazil and in the international context

Abstract

Objective – Identify trends and gaps in water security using the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus approach in the Brazilian and international contexts.

Methodology – Survey of publications (2020–2025) in the Scopus database and qualitative and quantitative analysis of articles using VOSviewer software, combining bibliometrics and systematic review.

Originality/relevance – There is a lack of research linking water security to the WEF Nexus perspective, especially regarding water resource planning and urban planning.

Results – Publications were obtained in the following countries: the US (55), China (46), India (20), and Brazil (18) lead the publications. In the national context, studies on climate change, institutional fragmentation, low social participation, and technological difficulties stand out. The most frequent research develops qualitative methods, hydrological modeling, and theoretical reviews. There was a lack of indicators integrating the theme, low interdisciplinarity, and insufficient institutionalization of the Nexus as a methodological approach.

Theoretical/methodological contributions – Little use of the WEF Nexus in Brazil and extensive experience in the international context, in addition to the complexity of applying this approach.

Social and environmental contributions – Evidence indicates impacts on food production, urban agriculture, stormwater management, and governance. Internationally, the WEF Nexus shows promise in addressing climate change and socio-environmental inequalities, with an emphasis on decentralized solutions and adaptive infrastructure. In Brazil, scientific production is in its infancy, and there are gaps in integrated public policies and the use of digital data, requiring strategies to be adapted to local realities