Abstract

This study aims at conducting an exhaustive bibliometric analysis on microgreen facilitating the future roadmap for farmers, policymakers, researchers and authors. The search was conducted on October 4, 2024. “Microgreens” or “microgreen” keywords were used in the ‘Article Title, Abstract, and Keywords’ section. Total 602 documents retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using Biblioshiny and VOS viewer. USA was the leading country in microgreens research with 21% total publications due to its pioneering contribution. Rouphael Y (TP-31) was the most productive author and Horticulturae (TP-32) was the most productive journal. Most existing studies concentrate on controlled agricultural environments, primarily investigating how light conditions influence the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive compounds. Keywords distribution suggests emerging of microgreens as an important functional food, but they still need scientific and regulatory attention to be utilized in mainstream food systems. The future research of microgreens must focus on reducing their postharvest losses, commercialization and enhancing their shelf life as well as therapeutic potential.

Keywords:Bibliometric analysis; Microgreens; Functional foods; Sustainable agriculture; Food safety

Highlights

A. The study is a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of microgreens research to guide farmers, policymakers and researchers.
B. A total of 602 documents from the Scopus database were analysed (as of October 4, 2024) using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer tools.
C. The USA leads global research, with Rouphael Y as the most productive author and Horticulturae as the top journal.
D. Research trends mainly emphasize on nutrition and health, especially bioactive compounds like antioxidants and carotenoids, often studied under controlled environments.
E. Future directions focus on improving postharvest management, commercialization, shelf life and exploring the therapeutic potential of microgreens.