Methodological guidelines for the calculation of a Water-Energy-Food nexus index for seafood products

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-06, Vol.877, p.162845-162845, Article 162845
• Main Authors: Entrena-Barbero, Eduardo, Ceballos Santos, Sandra, Cortés, Antonio, Esteve-Llorens, Xavier, Moreira, María Teresa, Villanueva-Rey, Pedro, Quiñoy, Diego, Almeida, Cheila, Marques, António, Quinteiro, Paula, Dias, Ana Cláudia, Laso, Jara, Margallo, María, Aldaco, Rubén, Feijoo, Gumersindo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blue growth; Ecolabel; Ecosystem; Environment; Food sector; Life cycle assessment; Nutritional index; Seafood; Sustainable fishing; Water; Water Supply
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162845

Indicators from life cycle assessment methodologies (i.e., footprints) have emerged as useful tools for identifying and communicating the environmental impacts of a system thanks to they are accessible and intuitive and easy to understand to non-expert public. However, the focus on a single environmental problem is one of their main drawbacks. From this idea arises the concept of Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, with the aim of raising awareness of the connections between the universal rights to water supply, energy security and food provision. Regarding the latter, the fisheries sector stands out as a fundamental pillar in the fight against malnutrition. In this sense, the European project “blue growth” aims to ensure that the development of the marine sector is not linked to the degradation of its ecosystems. However, although producers and authorities are willing to communicate the sustainability of products, there is still no standard methodology for reporting it. With the purpose of remedying this current situation, this paper aims to provide technical guidance to calculate a single WEF nexus index for ecolabelling seafood products in the European framework (Atlantic area). Therefore, through this, it is expected to create a useful communication channel between producers and consumers through an easy-to-read ecolabel. Nonetheless, certain aspects, such as the footprints selected or the calculation procedures selected have to be reconsidered to refine the methodology proposed, apart from broadening the approach to other food sectors with the aim that the proposed eco-certification can be present in major supply and retail chains. [Display omitted] •A guide is presented to calculate the sustainability of seafood products.•A novel standardised method is proposed for marine species of the Atlantic area.•Environmental and nutrient profiles of seafood are integrated in a WEF perspective.•An ecolabel is proposed for covering all the stakeholders of the seafood sector.•The novelty of the methodology constitutes a cornerstone towards a blue future.