Abstract

This study evaluated the visibility, reach and impact of Food Science research publications from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) in Ibadan, Nigeria, over the period 1972-2023. Utilizing webometric analysis, data were collected from Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Scopus, focusing on citation metrics, article counts, and online engagement. A total of 745 scholarly articles across various food science disciplines, including Food Microbiology, Human Nutrition, Meat Science, Nutritional Biochemistry, and Food Science Technology and Biotechnology, were analyzed. The study incorporated log file data from the 14 food scientists’ profiles, examining a total of 9,392 cited works. These citations were derived from materials indexed by Google Scholar (5,221 citations), Research Gate (3,358 citations) and Scopus (813 citations). Findings reveal that Food Science Technology and Biotechnology had the highest number of articles and citations, with 257 articles (64.4% of total) on Google Scholar and 3,108 citations (60% of total). Research Gate showed 171 articles (65% of total) with 2,249 citations (67% of total), while Scopus recorded 52 articles (63% of total) with 449 citations (55.2% of total). A paired t-test measuring the evolution of access and growth in published works indicated a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) across all specializations in Food Science. Citations for Food Science/Technology and Biotechnology rose from 19 (1%) in 1972- 1997 to 3,089 (99%) in 1998-2023, highlighting substantial growth in visibility and usage. The geographical distribution analysis showed that Africa had the highest citation metrics, followed by Europe, North America with Asia and South America having relatively lower impact. The study underscores the critical role of digital platforms in enhancing research impact and suggested that improved dissemination strategies are needed, particularly for areas with lower reach such as food Microbiology. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers aiming to enhance the visibility and impact of scientific research in food Science.

Keywords

webometric-analysis, citation metrics, digital platforms, food science research, visibility