Organic food research: Key contributors, research hotspots, and emerging trends

• Conducts a bibliometric analysis of organic food research using data from the Web of Science database. • Identify key themes such as consumer behavior, sustainability, purchase intention, and health consciousness. • Highlights a growing emphasis on consumer trust and behavioral theories in organic food purchasing decisions. • Maps are the most influential contributors in organic food research, including leading institutions and countries. • Discusses research gaps and emerging trends, particularly in developing markets and policy interventions. This study explores the key themes surrounding organic food, emphasizing its associations with sustainability, consumer behavior, and market dynamics. By analyzing link strengths and occurrences in organic food research, the study identifies critical gaps and emerging trends. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using performance analysis and science mapping. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science database and analyzed with VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. The methodology followed a structured approach, including defining search criteria, data preprocessing, network visualization, and thematic clustering to identify structural and evolutionary trends in organic food research. The results highlight "organic food" as a central theme, strongly linked to organic farming, consumer attitudes, sustainability, purchase intention, and health consciousness. A growing emphasis on consumer trust and behavioral theories signals a shift toward understanding decision-making processes. Additionally, research gaps are identified, particularly in emerging markets and the role of policy interventions in organic food adoption. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the organic food research landscape, offering theoretical and practical insights for academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. By mapping existing literature and identifying research gaps, the study lays the foundation for future research directions aimed at advancing sustainability and market growth in the organic food sector.