Geopolitics and global food maritime transport: pathways, disparities, and research challenges

Geopolitical disruptions are increasingly reshaping global food security by destabilising maritime transport, the dominant mode of international food trade. This study conducts a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 204 publications indexed in Scopus and Google Scholar to examine the relationship between geopolitics and food maritime transport. The results reveal a sustained rise in scholarly attention since the early 2000s, alongside persistent geographical concentration in the Global North and pronounced thematic fragmentation. Combining bibliometric mapping with interpretive synthesis, the review shows that existing studies have mainly examined this relationship through four main lines of inquiry: (i) the spatial intersection of food insecurity, geopolitical sensitivity, and food maritime transport; (ii) conflict- and security-driven disruptions to maritime transport systems; (iii) adaptive responses through emerging routes and cooperative initiatives; and (iv) feedback effects whereby food maritime transport influences geopolitical relations and governance. Building on this synthesis, the study clarifies the main mechanisms through which geopolitical pressures are transmitted into food maritime transport, including disruptions to maritime security and transport performance, the reconfiguration of food trade and shipping networks, and the roles of adaptation and feedback. The review also identifies enduring gaps in regional coverage, disciplinary engagement, and data-driven transport analysis, particularly with respect to food-insecure and import-dependent regions. Overall, the study demonstrates that food maritime transport is a politically embedded and spatially differentiated system through which geopolitical forces reshape food flows and food security.