Global research trends and thematic clusters in rice-based sustainable food systems: A systematic review

Rice is a cornerstone of global food security, livelihoods and rural economies, yet its production and consumption are increasingly challenged by climate change, resource constraints and sustainability trade-offs. While research on rice sustainability has expanded rapidly in recent years, the literature remains fragmented across disciplines, analytical scales and food system components. This study presents a systematic literature review that maps and analyses the global research landscape on rice-based sustainable food systems using bibliometric methods and content co-occurrence analysis techniques. A total of 227 publications indexed in the Scopus database (2013-2025) were analysed following PRISMA guidelines. Bibliometric analysis was conducted to examine publication trends, country and institutional contributions, source distribution and keyword co-occurrence patterns. Scientific output increased sharply after 2021, with nearly 89 % of publications produced between 2021 and 2025, indicating rapid consolidation of the field. Country-wise analysis shows a strong concentration of research in Asia, particularly India (136 publications), China (121) and Indonesia (96). Subsequently, content co-occurrence analysis identified four thematic clusters: (i) consumer behaviour, dietary choices and environmental implications; (ii) crop management, resource constraints and economic trade-offs; (iii) food security, resilience and supply chain dynamics; and (iv) adoption and transition towards sustainable rice systems. The results reveal a strong concentration of research in Asia, growing interdisciplinary engagement and a recent surge in system-oriented sustainability studies. However, persistent gaps were identified, including limited methodological integration, weak linkage between production and consumption research and underrepresentation of transition dynamics and emerging regions. By synthesising key interventions, practices and technologies across clusters, this review provides an integrated perspective on pathways toward rice-based sustainable food systems and outlines priority directions for future research and policy development.