AccelNet-Implementation: US-Africa Sustainable Food Systems through Water-Energy- Food Nexus Networking (SustainFood)

全球变化正在推动世界各地农业系统的变化。在人口增长和气候变化加速的压力下，粮食生产需要可持续的水和能源使用方法。SustainFood网络综合了对非洲可持续和公平粮食系统、可再生能源转型和水治理问题的研究，以保护生态系统，使其能够抵御极端天气和政治不稳定。该网络将科学家、社区和政策制定者联系起来，研究水、能源和粮食安全关系中的挑战。这些动态对美国在科学创新、可持续性以及人类和环境安全方面的利益至关重要。该网络满足了提高农业产量的需要，同时保持环境完整性和支持社会公平。这些合作调查气候变化对粮食生产、加工、分配和使用的影响。SustainFood网络将研究和教学机构，政策和实践非政府组织，政府和民间社会参与者联系起来，以制定解决方案，解决非洲各地的粮食不安全挑战，并与美国和其他地方相关。该网络通过社会和环境可持续的实践，为科学做出贡献，并扩展关于城市景观作为粮食生产领域的知识，以促进粮食安全。SustainFood网络通过促进以下方式确定挑战并制定解决方案：1）系统层面对可持续水、能源和粮食安全的理解; 2）增加代表性不足的群体在确定解决方案方面的STEM参与; 3）通过促进可持续水、能源和粮食安全的可持续性，促进可持续水、能源和粮食安全。（3）促进科学对政策的影响。该网络利用粮食、能源和水安全之间的相互关系作为可持续粮食系统的框架。 它开发综合建模和权衡分析，填补数据空白，并与决策者合作，以解决日益严重的粮食不安全问题。该组织支持美国和非洲之间的双向学生交流，并与小型和独立的农民，社区以及公共和私营服务提供商合作，与全球利益相关者分享新的实践。数据科学工具，对WEF系统的科学理解，以及该团队在美国和非洲国家工作中出现的基于证据的政策参与，有助于使用启发式研究，政策吸收和社会影响。通过以区域为重点的研究和政策解决方案，非洲可以通过更好的规划实现世界经济论坛的复原力，可持续地促进国内、美国和全球的福祉。通过国际网络对网络合作加速研究（Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations，简称CNET）计划旨在加速科学发现的进程，并为下一代美国研究人员进行多团队国际合作做好准备。该计划支持美国研究网络和海外互补网络之间的战略联系，这些网络将利用研究和教育资源来应对需要重大协调国际努力的重大科学挑战。该项目由国际科学与工程办公室（OISE）资助。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Global change is driving changes in agricultural systems around the world. Food production requires sustainable practices in the use of water and energy under pressure of growing populations and accelerating climate change. The SustainFood network synthesizes research on issues of sustainable and equitable food systems, renewable energy transitions, and water governance in Africa to safeguard ecosystems so that they are resilient to weather extremes and political instability. The network links scientists, communities, and policymakers to research challenges at the nexus of water, energy, and food (WEF) security. These dynamics are critical for US interests in relation to scientific innovation, sustainability, and human and environmental security. This network addresses the need to improve agricultural yields while maintaining environmental integrity and supporting social equity. These collaborations investigate climate-change impacts on food production, processing, distribution, and use. The SustainFood network links research and teaching institutions, policy and practice NGOs, government, and civil-society participants to develop solutions that address food insecurity challenges across Africa with relevance for the US and elsewhere. The network contributes to science and expands knowledge on urban landscapes as areas of food production to promote food security through socially and environmentally sustainable practices.The SustainFood network identifies challenges and develops solutions by promoting: 1) systems-level understanding of sustainable water, energy, and food security; 2) increased STEM participation of underrepresented groups in identifying solutions; and 3) advancing science-to-policy impacts. The network uses the nexus of interactions among food, energy, and water security as the framework for sustainable food systems. It develops integrated modeling and tradeoff analysis, fills data gaps, and engages with decision-makers to address rising food insecurity. The group supports bidirectional student exchanges between the US and Africa and works with small and independent farmers, communities, and public and private service providers to share new practices with global stakeholders. The data science tools, scientific understanding of WEF systems, and evidence-based policy engagement emerging from this team’s work in the US and across African countries contribute to use-inspired research, policy uptake, and social impact. With regionally focused research and policy solutions, Africa can achieve WEF resilience through better planning that sustainably fosters well-being at home, in the US, and globally.The Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) program is designed to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers for multiteam international collaborations. The AccelNet program supports strategic linkages among U.S. research networks and complementary networks abroad that will leverage research and educational resources to tackle grand scientific challenges that require significant coordinated international efforts. This project is funded by the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.