Edible insects as sustainable food and feed sources: a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer

Abstract This study is designed as a bibliometric review of the literature on edible insects as food and feed. The rapid increase in the global population and the growing environmental pressures associated with traditional livestock farming are intensifying interest in alternative and sustainable protein sources. In this context, edible insects are emerging as a promising solution for both food and feed systems. This study aims to present a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scientific research published on edible insects between 2001 and 2025 using data obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database. A total of 4425 articles and review studies included in the Sci-expanded, SSCI and ESCI indexes were evaluated using VOSviewer software to examine publication trends, research areas, leading journals, authors, countries, institutions, and intellectual structures. The analysis included co-authorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, and bibliographic matching. The results show a sharp increase in the number of publications, particularly after 2016, with 2025 emerging as the most productive year. Research on edible insects exhibits a highly multidisciplinary structure, encompassing food science and technology, entomology, agriculture, nutrition, and environmental sciences. The Journal of Insects as Food and Feed stands out as the most influential and productive journal in the field, playing a central role in citation and bibliographic matching networks. Italy, China, the United States, and several European countries lead in both publication output and citation impact, while institutions such as Wageningen University & Research and ICIPE are prominent contributors. Keyword and co-citation analyses reveal a thematic shift in the literature from production and nutrition focused studies to consumer acceptance, sustainability, and socio-psychological dimensions. Overall, this study maps the intellectual framework of edible insect research and provides valuable insights for future research and policy development processes within the context of sustainable food and feed systems.