Global Research Trends and Future Directions for Buckwheat as a Smart Crop: A Bibliometric and Content Analysis

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) originates from Central Asia and is widely distributed around the world. It is recognized as a versatile food crop due to its nutritional richness. Conducting a systematic analysis of the literature on buckwheat research can help scientific researchers achieve a better understanding of the current state, hotspots, and trends in this field, thereby promoting the sustainable development of buckwheat. The study retrieved a total of 4512 articles related to buckwheat from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), involving 104 countries (regions), 3220 institutions, and 12,840 authors. The number of research papers on buckwheat is gradually increasing. China, Japan, Poland, the United States, and South Korea were the top five countries in terms of publication volume in this field. Among the top 10 institutions in terms of publication volume, Chinese institutions account for 60%. Northwest A & F University held a leading position in the number of papers published and cited. Research on buckwheat shows that both domestic and international research institutions tend to collaborate more with institutions within their own countries. A comprehensive analysis of journals with a high number of publications and citations in buckwheat research indicated that studies primarily focus on its use as food and its active substances. Analysis of the authors and cited authors indicated that Wu Qi and Zhu F, among others, have high reputations and significant influence in this field. Reference analysis has determined that early research primarily focused on buckwheat as a pseudo-cereal food; mid-term research mainly concentrated on its active substances and cultivation; later research became more comprehensive, focusing on its potential in food, biotechnology, and medical health, which gradually emerged as trends and hot topics. Keyword analysis indicates that buckwheat flour, antioxidant activity, protective biological control, and buckwheat husk are current research hotspots. This study systematically summarizes the current status of research in the field, identifies research hotspots and trends, and provides a reference for future investigations into buckwheat.