Summary
This bibliometric review synthesises 1,574 Scopus-indexed articles to characterise the state and structure of agricultural water footprint research globally. The analysis reveals a disproportionate focus on annual staple crops (wheat, maize, rice) relative to perennial crops and regional water demand pressures, alongside a predominance of theoretical evapotranspiration methods over empirical field validation. The authors identify emerging methodological opportunities in Life Cycle Assessment, remote sensing, machine learning, and climate-adaptive modelling, and argue for research reorientation towards high-impact perennial systems and empirical water management strategies.
UK applicability
The findings on research gaps and methodological recommendations are relevant to UK agricultural sustainability policy and research prioritisation. However, the structural misalignment between research and water demand is most acute in water-stressed regions; UK applications should focus on which perennial or horticultural systems merit greater empirical study under temperate conditions.
Key measures
Bibliometric indicators (publication volume, author networks, keyword co-occurrence), comparison of research output with FAO production data and Water Footprint Network benchmarks, methodological assessment of evapotranspiration-based versus empirical water use studies
Outcomes reported
The study identified a bibliometric database of 1,574 peer-reviewed articles on agricultural water footprint, mapping research evolution, conceptual structures, and key methodological trends. It revealed structural misalignment between scientific research focus and crops with elevated water demand, particularly highlighting underrepresentation of perennial crops in the literature despite their significant local water pressure.
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