Mapping the global landscape of algae-based food research: A bibliometric analysis of trends, collaborations, and future directions

This study provides a comprehensive mapping of the global research landscape on algae, microalgae, and seaweed in food-related applications over the period 1989-2024, with particular emphasis on food additives, nutraceuticals, functional foods, and bioactive compounds. Based on 929 records retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, a tailored bibliometric framework is employed that integrates performance analysis, science mapping, thematic evolution, and reference-year analysis, thereby linking publication dynamics with the intellectual and conceptual structure of the field. The findings indicate a pronounced and sustained growth in algae-based food research, characterized by extensive international collaboration and a rising emphasis on functional ingredients and health-promoting compounds. Thematic and conceptual analyses delineate algal extracts, bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids as the principal knowledge clusters. The evolutionary trajectory of the field reveals a progression from primarily biochemical characterization toward more application-oriented research in food, nutraceutical, and functional health domains. Collectively, these results provide a systematic evidence base to support researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers in understanding current research priorities and in identifying emerging directions in algae-based food innovation.