Bibliometric Analysis of International Collaboration on Sustainable Palm Oil Research

Abstract

This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to examine the global research landscape and international collaboration patterns in sustainable palm oil research using Scopus-indexed publications from 2000 to 2025. Through co-authorship networks, institutional linkages, country collaborations, and keyword mapping, the analysis reveals an increasingly interdisciplinary field shaped by environmental science, engineering innovation, and sustainability governance. Results indicate that Malaysia and Indonesia serve as the principal research hubs, supported by strong collaborative networks with Europe, Asia, and emerging economies. Keyword co-occurrence and temporal evolution analyses show that early research was dominated by biofuel and life-cycle assessment themes, while recent studies have shifted toward environmental protection, climate impacts, circular economy strategies, and biomass valorization. Highly cited papers highlight critical contributions in renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, supply chain sustainability, and waste-to-resource innovation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that sustainable palm oil research is driven by diverse scientific perspectives and sustained international cooperation, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to balance ecological integrity, technological advancement, and global sustainability objectives. This study contributes an empirical foundation for understanding thematic development, identifying collaboration hotspots, and guiding future research priorities in sustainable palm oil scholarship.