Azer Gurbanzade

Understanding the role of government policy in advancing sustainable development goals and food sovereignty is key to building food security and food system resilience. This study leverages bibliometric analysis of Scopus data using tools like Biblioshiny to explore global research trends on the interrelationship between government policies in the agrarian sector and food security. The methodology involves structured data collection, cleaning, and analysis of metadata and keywords, revealing growth in publications since the 1980s, with significant increases post-2000 due to heightened global food security concerns. The peak of publication in 2023 is connected to the war in Ukraine, the disruptions it caused to global food security, and the functioning of the grain corridor agreements. From 1922 to 2000, studies focused on broad themes like agricultural policy and food security. Between 2001 and 2010, attention shifted to food markets, sovereignty, grain production, and the Common Agricultural Policy. From 2011 to 2025, research expanded to climate-smart agriculture, dietary diversity, foreign investment, and technological advancements like data analysis and remote sensing, highlighting technology’s growing role in food security. The core themes such as “agricultural policy,” “food security,” “climate change,” and “sustainable agriculture” emerged as dominant areas of focus. Advanced topics like “machine learning,” “remote sensing,” and “climate-smart agriculture” highlight a shift toward data-driven, technologically integrated solutions for food security. China and the USA were identified as leading contributors, producing the most publications and participating in the highest number of international collaborations.

The sustainable development of the agri-food industry has become increasingly critical in the face of rising food insecurity, climate change, and recent global disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts. This study aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of global research concerning the sustainable development of the agri-food industry and its implications for food security across nations. Drawing on 1,704 Scopus-indexed publications from 1993 to the first quarter of 2025, the study identifies four distinct phases of research growth, ranging from an exploratory stage to a recent surge in interdisciplinary and technology-focused studies. Keyword co-occurrence analysis reveals five major thematic clusters: agri-food supply chains, environmental sustainability, public health and nutrition, technological and product innovation, and systemic food security. Thematic evolution demonstrates a clear progression from fragmented early research to integrated, systems-based approaches, with a growing emphasis on digital technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain, and IoT) and circular economy principles. Despite rapid thematic expansion, the study highlights ongoing gaps in connecting sustainability research to actionable food security strategies in low- and middle-income regions.