University of Tehran Press Iranian Journal of Biosystem Engineering 2008-4803 55 4 2025 01 20 Investigation, Modeling, and Optimization Nexus of Water, Energy, and Food in Paddy Production in Rasht County Investigation, Modeling, and Optimization Nexus of Water, Energy, and Food in Paddy Production in Rasht County 21 43 101470 10.22059/ijbse.2025.388507.665580 FA Sina Sharifi Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz,, Ahvaz, Iran Abbas Asakereh Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz,, Ahvaz, Iran Mostafa Kiani Deh Kiani Department of Biosystems Engineering, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran Somaye Janatrostami Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht Journal Article 2025 01 09 The growing population and increasing demand for natural resources present significant challenges. The nexus approach, which involves modeling and optimizing the consumption of water, energy, and food, enhances resource efficiency and ensures the sustainability of interconnected systems. This study focuses on investigating, modeling, and optimizing the water-energy-food nexus for paddy production in Rasht County. The objectives were pursued through two scenarios: high-yield paddy production and agricultural consolidation, utilizing the LEAP, WEAP, and MGP models. Data were collected from farmers, organizations, and library sources. Optimization was conducted using the NSGA-II algorithm. Inputs such as fuel, electricity, agricultural machinery, chemicals, organic materials, labor, and water were analyzed. The water resources considered included those for drinking, industrial, and agricultural purposes, as well as rivers, channels, ponds, and groundwater. The results revealed that the average energy consumption and production in the high-yield paddy variety scenario were higher compared to the agricultural consolidation scenario. The average water consumption in both scenarios showed no significant difference until 2040. Modeling results indicated that under ideal conditions, the RMSE, R², MAPE, and EF values were 353.110, 0.9032, 10.831, and 0.891, respectively. The optimization findings demonstrated that under ideal conditions, water and energy consumption, and paddy production were reduced by 0.94%, 0.53%, and 3.26%, respectively. The growing population and increasing demand for natural resources present significant challenges. The nexus approach, which involves modeling and optimizing the consumption of water, energy, and food, enhances resource efficiency and ensures the sustainability of interconnected systems. This study focuses on investigating, modeling, and optimizing the water-energy-food nexus for paddy production in Rasht County. The objectives were pursued through two scenarios: high-yield paddy production and agricultural consolidation, utilizing the LEAP, WEAP, and MGP models. Data were collected from farmers, organizations, and library sources. Optimization was conducted using the NSGA-II algorithm. Inputs such as fuel, electricity, agricultural machinery, chemicals, organic materials, labor, and water were analyzed. The water resources considered included those for drinking, industrial, and agricultural purposes, as well as rivers, channels, ponds, and groundwater. The results revealed that the average energy consumption and production in the high-yield paddy variety scenario were higher compared to the agricultural consolidation scenario. The average water consumption in both scenarios showed no significant difference until 2040. Modeling results indicated that under ideal conditions, the RMSE, R², MAPE, and EF values were 353.110, 0.9032, 10.831, and 0.891, respectively. The optimization findings demonstrated that under ideal conditions, water and energy consumption, and paddy production were reduced by 0.94%, 0.53%, and 3.26%, respectively. https://ijbse.ut.ac.ir/article_101470_3b07aa2cc8ffb1cc43728d9243eeeb80.pdf