KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND EMERGING TRENDS IN FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY

Abstract

The global issue of food waste has become a critical challenge in achieving environmental sustainability, food security, and efficient resource utilization. Despite increasing awareness, the management and reduction of food waste remain complex, requiring a comprehensive understanding of research progress and emerging trends in this domain. This research seeks to investigate the evolution of knowledge as well as emerging trends in food waste management through a bibliometric analysis of global research output. Data were collected from the Scopus database using advanced search strategies with keywords such as food waste, waste, management, strategy, reduction, knowledge, and awareness, yielding a total of 1,302 relevant publications. The data were refined and standardized using OpenRefine to ensure consistency and accuracy. Bibliometric indicators and trends were analyzed through the Scopus analyzer, while visualization maps—such as keyword co-occurrence, co-authorship, and citation networks—were generated using VOSviewer software to determine influential authors, key research themes, as well as collective networks. The findings reveal a significant increase in publication trends, particularly from 2015 to 2025, indicating growing global attention toward sustainable food waste management. The United Kingdom (UK), China, Italy, and the United States emerged as leading contributors with strong international collaborations. Major thematic clusters were identified around waste reduction technologies, circular economy strategies, and public awareness initiatives. The high citation rates of review papers and multidisciplinary studies highlight the expanding academic and policy relevance of this field. In conclusion, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the intellectual landscape, identifying evolving research directions and collaborative patterns that contribute to advancing sustainable solutions for food waste management. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking to enhance global food system sustainability.