The food–energy–water (FEW) nexus describes interactions among domains that yield gains or trade-offs when analysed together rather than independently. In a project about renewable energy in rural Alaska communities, we applied this concept to examine the implications for sustainability and resilience. The FEW nexus provided a useful framework for identifying the cross-domain benefits of renewable energy, including gains in FEW security. However, other factors such as transportation and governance also play a major role in determining FEW security outcomes in rural Alaska. Here, we show the implications of our findings for theory and practice. The precise configurations of and relationships among FEW nexus components vary by place and time, and the range of factors involved further complicates the ability to develop a functional, systematic FEW model. Instead, we suggest how the FEW nexus may be applied conceptually to identify and understand cross-domain interactions that contribute to long-term sustainability and resilience.

食物，能源，水（FEW）的关系描述了域之间的相互作用，当一起分析而不是独立分析时，它们之间会产生收益或取舍。在一个有关阿拉斯加农村社区可再生能源的项目中，我们应用了这一概念来研究对可持续性和复原力的影响。FEW关系提供了一个有用的框架，可用于识别可再生能源的跨域利益，包括FEW安全方面的收益。但是，其他因素，例如运输和治理在决定阿拉斯加农村地区的FEW安全成果方面也起着重要作用。在这里，我们展示了我们的发现对理论和实践的启示。FEW关联组件的精确配置及其之间的关系随位置和时间的不同而变化，并且所涉及的因素范围进一步使开发功能，系统的FEW模型。相反，我们建议如何在概念上应用FEW关联来识别和理解有助于长期可持续性和弹性的跨域交互。