Bibliometric Analysis of Climate-Smart Agriculture: Trends, Research Gaps, and Impacts on Crop Production

Abstract

Climate-Smart  Agriculture  (CSA)  plays  a  critical  role  in  combating  climate change, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable crop production. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of CSA research from 2015 to 2024, leveraging data from the Scopus database. The analysis pursues three main objectives: (1) examining research trends by tracking publication growth, subject areas, and document types; (2) identifying gaps in research by evaluating the distribution across countries, institutions, and funding sources; and (3) proposing directions for future research. Using a Boolean search string (“climate-smart agriculture” OR “CSA” OR “climate resilient agriculture” OR “sustainable agriculture”)  AND  (“bibliometric  analysis”  OR  “scientometric  analysis”  OR  “systematic mapping” OR “literature review” OR “science mapping”) AND (“crop production” OR “crop yield” OR “agricultural productivity” OR “farming systems”), data were retrieved from titles, abstracts, and keywords. After screening, 111 documents were retained for analysis, with bibliometric graphs and outputs generated directly from Scopus to ensure precision. Results show a consistent growth in CSA research, with a notable surge in 2024. Environmental Science (24.4%) and Agricultural and Biological Sciences (20.9%) emerged as the dominant fields,  while  the  study  also  highlighted  CSA's  interdisciplinary  nature,  with  contributions from Social Sciences, Computer Science, and Energy. India, the United States, and China led in research output, supported by robust institutional and funding networks. However, significant gaps remain in Africa and Latin America, with a scarcity of studies focused on socio-economic aspects and policy development. To propel CSA towards greater impact, it is crucial to foster collaborations, expand regional participation, and diversify funding sources, thereby advancing sustainable crop productivity and climate resilience globally.