Integrating Biohybrid Systems into the Water-Energy-Food Nexus for Sustainable Future

Abstract

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus is a conceptual framework that recognizes the deep interdependencies among three essential resources, specifically water, energy, and food. It seeks to achieve environmental sustainability, resource security, and industrial efficiency through integrated engineering. In this context, biohybrid systems that merge biological components with artificial or engineered materials offer promising and practical pathways to foster interconnectivity within the WEF nexus. These systems can enhance performance by harnessing the unique capabilities of living organisms, such as self-repair, metabolic conversion, and environmental adaptability, while combining them with the structural and functional advantages of synthetic materials. Here, an integrated approach is presented that incorporates biohybrids into conventional WEF nexus technologies to establish long-term sustainability. In particular, the introduction of biohybrid system enables ecologically friendly, low-cost, and energy-efficient solutions. These strategies address current global challenges in water, energy, and food while also holding potential for applications in future-oriented technologies such as space exploration and planetary colonization. Overall, biohybrid WEF nexus systems represent a versatile and scalable platform for advancing sustainability in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments.