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Agricultural and Municipal Biowaste Within the Circular Economy Framework: A Bibliometric Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Ginevra Giacomello

    (Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
    Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Turin, Italy)

  • Niccolò Leonardi

    (Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Turin, Italy)

  • Davide Assandri

    (Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Turin, Italy)

  • Niccolò Pampuro

    (Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Turin, Italy)

Abstract

Municipal and agricultural biowaste are a significant portion of the global waste stream and represent an environmental challenge that must be addressed sustainably. The literature on the topic has increased dramatically, and a bibliometric analysis is a necessary guide through this ever-growing production. This study gives an objective overview of the state of the art and topic evolution of biowaste within sustainability/circular economy frameworks. This bibliometric analysis serves as a starting point for further qualitative research, while offering opportunities for future collaborations. Two parallel searches were conducted in Scopus, agri-food/agricultural (2391 papers) and municipal (264 papers) biowaste within sustainability/circular economy concepts, and analyzed with VosViewer (version 1.6.20.0) and Excel (version 1808). This review analyzes the following: annual scientific production and countries involved, showing the US and Italy as leaders on both topics; most productive authors (only 0.2% wrote at least five papers) and affiliations and underlying international, even if static, collaborations; most influential publications and sources ( Science of the Total Environment, Journal of Cleaner Production, Sustainability ); evolution of keywords over time; and strengths and limitations of the bibliometric approach. It also highlights the potential for future research and collaboration. Furthermore, it underlines waste management’s evolution from a sustainable point of view towards a circular economy approach and differences between municipal and agricultural biowaste scientific production.

Suggested Citation

  • Ginevra Giacomello & Niccolò Leonardi & Davide Assandri & Niccolò Pampuro, 2025. "Agricultural and Municipal Biowaste Within the Circular Economy Framework: A Bibliometric Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:5:p:546-:d:1604730
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    References listed on IDEAS

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