A Bibliometric Research on Food Market Shifts. Challenges for Actors in the Food Chain

This research explores the changes in the food market and the challenges faced by supply chain actors in the context of emerging transformations. The central issue lies in understanding the impact of technological change, the pressures for sustainability, and the evolution of customer preferences towards food production and distribution. The present paper aims to analyse the current state of research carried out on changes and new trends in the food market, at a global level. Through this research, the authors aim to provide more information to the literature, providing a detailed vision of the steps initiated to support industrial challenges, the transition to circular economic models, and the sustainability of food chains in accordance with quality and safety standards. The methodology is mixed, combining bibliometric research to assess the evolution of research in this field and a qualitative analysis to detail the main challenges that include the high costs for the implementation of new technologies, compliance with environmental regulations, and the integration of innovations into existing infrastructures. The results highlight a significant increase in the volume of research dedicated to sustainability and digitalisation in the food sector, reflecting a growing academic interest in these topics. This trend suggests not only a paradigm shift in specialised studies, but also a considerable impact on the strategies adopted by actors in the food chain. This research provides an innovative perspective on changes in the food market through the use of bibliometric analysis, a method that allows the identification and quantification of academic trends in a systematic and objective way. Unlike traditional approaches, the study not only describes changes in the industry, but correlates them with the evolution of scientific research, highlighting how new economic, technological, and social directions are reflected in the literature.