ABSTRACT
Resource scarcity creates opportunities. There are several examples of public and private sector opportunities created in response to resource scarcity and Nexus stress. The energy, water, and food Nexus is a “wicked problem". Irish water infrastructure was in need of a major upgrade due to leakage and the potential for contamination. In addition to the need to upgrade aging infrastructure the Irish water system was managed by 31 different local authorities, which resulted in duplication and inconsistencies in investments, operations, and maintenance. A new system for prioritization of investments in water infrastructure has been formally adopted by the National Water Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture. Five public-private-partnerships have been developed for integrated agriculture development across the state, instituting different cropping systems resulting in some 5.7 million cubic meters less water abstracted per year. This approach has a huge potential for scaling up in the state and across India.
