A Scientometric Exploration of Multidisciplinary Food Security Research in India: Trends and Patterns

Food security is a multidisciplinary field with evolving definitions, causes, consequences and solutions. In this paper, using tools of scientometrics and bibliometrics-publication performance analysis and science/network mapping, we try to gain an aggregated macro view of food security literature conducted in or closely related to India. We use VOSviewer and bibliometrix/ biblioshiny in the R programme to generate network maps and publication trends. We find that the quantum of publications in the field of food security has increased over the last 30 years (1980-2021). India collaborates most with the USA and more recently with Belgium, Israel, Japan and Hungary. ‘Field Crops Research’ and ‘Food Security’ are the most impactful journals. The authors and publications exploring the mitigation of climate change, genetic trait improvement of crops and sustainable agricultural practices are of much relevance and influence. Climate change, agriculture, rice, wheat, yield and productivity are the most prominently used keywords for food security research in India. Research on food security now focuses on nutrition, gender, climate change and diet structure rather than yield and supply. For further research, building climate resilient food consumption patterns, exploring indigenous food diversity and links between gender and food/nutrition security and other micro-level intra-household dynamics can be explored. Evidence-based decision-making, intellectual collaboration and the creation of successful policies and interventions will all be made possible by scientometrics’ insightful understanding of the dynamics and structure of food security research