The study, published in 2026 in the Formosa Journal of Science and Technology, analyzed 5,390 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus between 2014 and 2024. Using bibliometric mapping tools, the researchers traced global trends, subject areas, collaboration networks, and citation patterns in food waste and food loss research.
The findings matter because food waste is a global crisis. Roughly one-third of food produced worldwide is lost or wasted each year. The environmental impact includes significant greenhouse gas emissions, while economic losses reach hundreds of billions of US dollars annually. Understanding who is producing knowledge—and how influential that knowledge is helps policymakers, researchers, and institutions strengthen global solutions.
Why Food Waste Research Is Expanding
Food waste and food loss affect food security, climate change, and economic stability. Losses occur throughout the supply chain from farms and storage facilities to retail stores and households.
In developing countries, losses often stem from inadequate storage, transportation, and infrastructure. In high-income countries, waste frequently occurs at the retail and consumer levels due to over-purchasing, portion sizes, and behavioral factors.
Governments worldwide have introduced regulations, awareness campaigns, and sustainability policies. China’s “Clean Your Plate” campaign and its Anti-Food Waste Law are examples of policy efforts driving research growth. At the same time, international sustainability agendas have elevated food waste as a strategic global priority.
As a result, scientific publications on food waste and food loss have accelerated sharply since 2014.
How the Study Was Conducted
The research team at Poltekkes Pontianak applied a quantitative bibliometric approach.
Key methodological points:
- Database used: Scopus
- Time frame: 2014–2024
- Total articles analyzed: 5,390
- Inclusion criteria: Journal articles with “food waste” or “food loss” in the title
- Tools: VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel
- Analysis focus: Publication trends, author productivity, institutional dominance, country collaboration networks, subject areas, and citation impact
This approach allowed the researchers to map the global knowledge structure without evaluating individual study quality.
Key Findings
1. Publications Peaked in 2022
Annual output rose steadily from 2014 and reached its highest level in 2022. A decline appeared in 2023, but overall growth across the decade was significant.
The trend reflects increasing global urgency around sustainability and food system resilience.
2. China Dominates in Publication Volume
China leads in:
- Total number of articles (1,722 publications among top countries)
- Institutional productivity
- Author collaboration networks
Among the 10 most productive institutions, eight are based in China. Major Chinese institutions include:
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Tsinghua University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This dominance is closely linked to strong domestic policy frameworks and national funding priorities focused on reducing food waste.
3. Western Countries Lead in Citation Impact
Despite China’s high publication volume, the most highly cited articles originate primarily from Europe and the United States.
Highly influential journals include:
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- Waste Management
- Bioresource Technology
- Applied Energy
For example, Applied Energy shows the highest average citations per article among leading journals in the dataset.
This reveals a citation gap: publication quantity does not automatically translate into global scientific influence.
4. Environmental and Engineering Fields Dominate
Food waste research is concentrated in technical disciplines:
- Environmental Science (3,268 articles)
- Energy
- Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Social Sciences and Economics remain underrepresented, despite the behavioral and policy dimensions of food waste.
This imbalance suggests future research opportunities in consumer behavior, economic incentives, and governance systems.
5. Four Major Research Clusters Identified
Using keyword mapping, the study identified four dominant thematic clusters:
These clusters show that the field has evolved from waste management toward integrated sustainability and circular economy frameworks.
Global Collaboration Patterns
The study highlights strong intra-national collaboration in China, while Western countries play central roles in cross-border research networks.
International collaboration tends to increase citation impact. However, low-income countries remain underrepresented in global research networks, limiting contextual diversity in food waste solutions.
“Although China dominates in the number of publications, global scientific influence remains concentrated in Europe and North America,” said Iman Jaladri of Poltekkes Pontianak. “This indicates the need for more balanced international collaboration to improve both research quality and policy relevance.”
Real-World Implications
The findings have practical significance:
- For policymakers: Strengthen international research partnerships and integrate social science perspectives into food waste policies.
- For universities: Encourage interdisciplinary research combining engineering, economics, and behavioral science.
- For industry: Invest in circular economy technologies and waste-to-energy innovation.
- For developing countries: Increase participation in global research networks to ensure local challenges are represented.
Reducing food waste requires more than technological innovation. It demands policy integration, behavioral change, and equitable global collaboration.
Author Profile
Iman Jaladri, SKM., M.Kes. is a public health scholar at Poltekkes Pontianak, Indonesia. His research focuses on food systems, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and bibliometric analysis of global scientific trends.
He co-authored this study with Yanuarti Petrika, Jonny Syah R. Purba, and Didik Haroyadi, also affiliated with Poltekkes Pontianak.
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