Cross-Country Differences in the Strategic Positioning of Asia-Based Scopus-Indexed Food Science Journals: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This study analyzes the strategic positioning and macro-level characteristics of Asia-based food science journals indexed in Scopus, addressing a critical gap in understanding journal-level development and editorial trajectories. Utilizing a quantitative bibliometric design, the research examined metadata spanning 2012–2025 from three high-performing journals selected from China (Journal A, 97th percentile, 4,002 documents), South Korea (Journal B, 98th percentile, 1,445 documents), and India (Journal C, 86th percentile, 6,206 documents). Data analysis and network visualizations were conducted via VOSviewer to map key structural indicators, including word co-occurrences, top authorship profiles, and international collaboration networks. The results reveal distinct, country-specific strategic orientations: the Chinese journal prioritizes global competitiveness through high-impact agricultural biotechnology and crop genetics; the South Korean journal concentrates heavily on animal science with dense co-authorship ties to major research powers such as the United States; whereas the Indian journal acts as an expansive regional hub for applied food technology, featuring highly decentralized partnerships across the Middle East and South America. These findings demonstrate that top-tier Asian journals systematically differentiate their scopes, ranging from elite international scientific integration to localized, applied problem-solving. This study provides a vital strategic roadmap for university administrators and national policymakers to effectively allocate research budgets and design targeted journal enhancement policies tailored to global or regional scholarly impacts.