Opening the black box of corporate social responsibility in the agri-food industry: a bibliometric analysis

In recent years, the agri-food industry has witnessed a notable surge in socio-environmental concerns, driven by an increasing demand for health-conscious and environmentally sustainable food products. This study employs bibliometric methods to conduct a thorough analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the agri-food sector. Drawing from a dataset of 890 documents spanning from 1981 to 2023, sourced from the web of Science (WOS), the research unfolds in two phases. Firstly, the study identifies foundational works in this domain, constructing a co-citation map to highlight key articles. Subsequently, through bibliographic coupling, an analysis of predominant research subdomains in the current discourse surrounding CSR in the food industry is conducted. This research not only provides insights into the evolution of CSR in the agri-food sector but also sheds light on emerging themes and areas warranting further investigation.