A bibliometric analysis of trends in the relationship between innovation and food

Abstract

PurposeFood-related innovations might contribute to a qualitative leap in the transition to sustainable food systems. In this article, the authors map the existing literature on food and innovation in order to identify and systematise major research streams and relate them to current discussions on sustainability. The authors rely on a broad definition of innovation covering specific technological innovations as well as social, environmental and system innovations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analysed the relationship between innovation and food through bibliometric and content analysis, augmented with visualisation based on data (N = 7,987) extracted from the Web of Science. The published volume, research areas and influential journals were investigated using descriptive analyses.FindingsThis review categorises the literature on innovation and food into six main clusters, showing that most of the studies are carried out at the macro-level related to the global sustainable food systems. Network visualisation allowed them to distribute recent keywords associated with innovation across the agri-food value chain. Moreover, the authors identified environmental, social and economic pillars of innovation, which not only relate to sustainability but also are associated with open innovation as well as social innovation and eco-innovation.Originality/valueThis bibliometric analysis is amongst the first to examine the holistic knowledge structure surrounding a triple concept of innovation, food and sustainability. In addition, the study identifies research gaps and indicates new research directions, which add further value.

Key antecedents and consequences of blockchain technology adoption in the wine industry: a multiple case study analysis

“…In this regard, a firm’s openness to interactions with the BCT providers and government organizations enhances the likelihood of BCT adoption. It is crucial to explore how open innovation and collaborations among food producers, technology providers, research institutions and other stakeholders can drive innovation throughout the food value chain (Dzhunushalieva and Teuber, 2024). Therefore, the primary theoretical implication of this study is to offer empirical support for the aforementioned statements.…”

“…2. Literature review 2.1 BCT-based technological innovation in the agri-food and wine supply chain Technological innovations are essential for creating sustainable food systems (Dzhunushalieva and Teuber, 2024). Especially in the food industry, digitalization is a critical driver of innovative circular business models and a powerful tool for amplifying value creation (Farace and Tarabella, 2024).…”