By Jelke Meij, Hannah Heesen, Stijn van Leeuwen, Lieke Wansink and Quintus Perdijk

Investigating the water-energy-food-environment nexus

In February and March, we stayed in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. There, we conducted research on the interactions within the so-called water-energy-food-environment nexus. Vietnam is currently developing at lightning speed, faster than the environment can handle. As a result, ecosystems in large parts of the country are under severe pressure. Mapping the interactions within this nexus was therefore at the heart of our research.

Since North Vietnam is about three times the size of the Netherlands, we focused on two specific areas: the Thac Ba Dam reservoir and the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system. The Thac Ba Dam reservoir is Vietnam's largest and oldest hydro dam and plays an important role in the North's water supply. Our focus here was mainly on the trade-offs between optimising water flow for irrigation and generating electricity.

We also looked at interactions within the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system, an area very similar to a Dutch polder and traditionally used for rice cultivation. Today, however, the system is largely polluted by emerging industry, making growing food increasingly difficult.

From theory to practice

As this area was near Hanoi, we went on a fieldtrip with professors from the university in Hanoi to explore the area and engage with operators from the region. How theory and practice can diverge quickly became clear to us during our fieldtrip through Bac Hung Hai. On the way, we passed a drain that was literally black with pollution. Images like that, and the environment itself, put everything into a perspective you don't find in books or behind your laptop.