Application of the Circular Economy in Research in the Agri-Food Supply Chain: Bibliometric, Network, and Content Analysis

Karel Dieguez-Santana (), Liliana Sarduy-Pereira, Enrique Ruiz-Reyes and Neyfe Sablón Cossío
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Karel Dieguez-Santana: Grupo de Investigación Descubrimiento de Biomoléculas, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena 150101, Napo, Ecuador
Liliana Sarduy-Pereira: Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena 150101, Napo, Ecuador
Enrique Ruiz-Reyes: Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo 130104, Manabí, Ecuador
Neyfe Sablón Cossío: Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo 130104, Manabí, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-28

Abstract: The agri-food supply chain (AFSC) is vital to ensure global food security. It faces significant environmental and economic challenges, requiring the adoption of circular economy (CE) principles to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency. This article presents a bibliometric analysis of 162 Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus documents from 2017 to 2024, focusing on contributions from leading authors and countries regarding CE application in AFSCs. Using bibliometrix R-Tool Version 4.3.2 and VOSviewer 1.6.20, we identified key topics, such as “Transforming Agriculture through Innovation and Sustainability in the Supply Chain” and “Implementation of a Circular Economy Framework in Agricultural Supply Chains”. We also pinpointed outdated and oversaturated research topics while proposing emerging subjects based on multiple analyses of the scientific literature corpus (title, abstract, and keywords). Finally, the combined bibliometric, network, and content analysis provided a comprehensive “big picture” of CE application in the AFSC, guiding future projects and research.

Keywords: agri-food supply chain; bibliometric analysis; circular economy; decision-making; network analysis; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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