Reconsidering the Soil–Water–Crops–Energy (SWCE) Nexus Under Climate Complexity—A Critical Review

Nektarios N. Kourgialas ()
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Nektarios N. Kourgialas: Water Resources-Irrigation & Environmental Geoinformatics Laboratory, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO DIMITRA), 73134 Chania, Greece

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Nowadays, sustainable agriculture is emerging as a critical framework within which food production, environmental protection and resilience to climate change must go hand in hand. At the core of this framework are the linkages between soil, water, crops, and energy (SWCE). As pressures from climate change, population growth and agricultural land degradation intensify, environmental management strategies are called upon to become more interdisciplinary, targeted and cost-effective. This review article synthesizes recent scientific findings shaping the contemporary understanding of hydro-environmental agriculture and critically examines the conceptual foundation of the SWCE nexus under climate complexity. In addition to reviewing methodological approaches, it highlights both successful global practice examples—such as integrated solar-powered irrigation and conservation-oriented soil–water management systems—and failed or problematic implementations where institutional fragmentation, unsustainable groundwater use, or energy trade-offs undermined outcomes. By analyzing these contrasting experiences, the article identifies key limiting factors and enabling conditions for scaling up nexus-based solutions. Finally, it provides recommendations for future research, integration, and policy-making, emphasizing the importance of adaptive governance, participatory approaches, and cross-sectoral collaboration to enhance the sustainability and resilience of agriculture.

Keywords: agroecosystems; adaptive practices; crop and soil management; irrigation technologies; decision support systems; interdisciplinary knowledge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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