Exploring the Relationship Between Land Use and the Food-Water-Energy Nexus: Insights From A Systematic Literature Review

As urbanization accelerates, cities face increasingly significant ecological challenges essential for sustainability. One of the primary manifestations of these challenges is the imbalance between food, water, and energy resources, often resulting in the irrational use of land. However, few scholars have reviewed the relationship between land use and the F-W-E nexus. Thus, this paper examines the interplay between land use and the Food-Water-Energy nexus using a thematic literature review covering the past 9 years (2015–2023). Specifically, 88 relevant articles have been identified and encoded using the NVivo software based on a structured coding framework that focuses on theory (framework), method, indicators, spatial scale, aims, and results. The literature was retrieved using keyword searches from Web of Science databases. The review follows a systematic four-step pro-cess: defining sub-questions, conducting a structured literature review based on PRISMA guidelines, utilizing NVivo for thematic coding and organization, and finally synthesizing and discussing the findings. The findings reveal several key insights: (1)Ecological urban morphology studies are essential for understanding urban land use planning spatial patterns. The influence of agricultural land on water quality remains ambiguous, and discrepancies exist in the effects of land-use intensity and residential density on F-W-E. (2) There is a clear lack of comprehensive interdisciplinary and multi-objective research theories and methods covering F-W-E-L (Food-Water-Energy-Land use). At the same time, implicit consumption beyond geographical boundaries needs attention. (3) Sustainable development goals within the F-W-E-L system lack clearly defined goals over time and fail to differentiate across spatial scales. (4) There is a deficiency in shared decision-making and post-policy tracking of urbanization within the F-W-E-L framework. To address these challenges, a comprehensive, multi-scale, interdisciplinary approach is pro-posed, integrating multi-sectoral decision-making and public participation into urban planning.