Synergy and competition of water in Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Insights for sustainability

•A novel optimization approach is developed for the Food-Energy-Water Nexus.•The energy and food industries exhibit synergy and competition for water use.•Synergy and competition scenarios quantify the state of industrial water use.•The inter-industry competitive and unsustainable water use are prominent.•Response paths are proposed based on administrative means and market allocation.