Challenges in the Food Market and the Agenda of Future Research Directions in the Context of Sustainability: A Bibliometric Exploration

In recent years, a number of changes have occurred in the food market, and the market has been subject to pressures for change, driven by legislation from the European Union (EU). For the food sector, this legislative framework has increased and intensified the discovery of sustainable ways of developing food, with the aim of reducing waste and carbon emissions. The impact on EU countries has been a major, as they have adopted and adapted distinct working scenarios for a changing food market, pushing food producers to adopt sustainable solutions in food production and processing. In response to the series of changes that the food sector has undergone, consumers have responded with a willingness to buy products made in a sustainable way. In addition, innovative products on the food market reduce the carbon footprint of the food sector. This research aims to investigate academic publications that focus on changes in the food market and sustainability. As a data source, the authors used the Web of Science platform. The study uses bibliometric analysis to identify the main authors, affiliations, journals, collaborative networks, and to analyse the structures (conceptual, intellectual, and social) of the researched field. Through thematic maps, WordClouds, and three-field diagrams, this research provides detailed insights into the food market and future research directions.