The digital future of farming: A bibliometric analysis of big data in smart farming research

Recent advancement of technology in the analytics of big data has sparked a transformative revolution in smart agriculture, enabling farmers to make informed decisions, optimize resources, and enhance productivity and sustainability. Tracking developmental progress is crucial to understanding how big data applications in smart farming are rapidly evolving with ongoing technological advancements. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of academic publications and documents published in Scopus-indexed peer-reviewed journals. A total of 2,154 publications, including journal articles (45 %), conference proceedings (30 %), book series (16 %), and books (9 %), were retrieved, with 96 % of the documents in the English language and two-thirds of the documents published within the last four years of this research study. The reviewed publications were predominantly focused on the disciplines of computer science (64 %), engineering (36 %), and agriculture and biological science (22 %). The contributions of authors from India, China, and the United States were the highest, accounting for half of the publications when combined. As an outcome of the bibliometric analysis, five research domains of big data, i.e., data-driven decision-making, sustainability and supply chain management, technology and innovation, data management and governance, and digital transformation were identified, suggesting positive development in this field. As an implication of this work, we have identified a need for greater global collaboration to achieve big data advancement and technology adaptation. We also discussed the implications of this work for research, practice, and policy. Despite the opportunities that big data brings for smart farming, economics, data governance, and data sharing and reliability remain prevalent issues. These issues need to be addressed for fully effective utilisation of big data in smart farming.