A multidimensional analysis of global production trade and research frontiers for the orphan crop taro Colocasia esculenta L. Schott

Abstract

Taro [ Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott], despite its importance as a food security crop for millions of people in Africa and other regions, remains largely overlooked as an underutilized orphan crop. This study provides a comprehensive global assessment of taro by integrating longitudinal bibliometric analysis with recent production and trade dynamics. Using science mapping techniques, 3,976 publications published between 1970 and 2025 were analysed alongside global production and trade data to evaluate evolving research trends, productivity patterns, and geographical disparities within the taro sector. The results revealed a significant production-yield paradox. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), led by Nigeria with 47.3% of global production volume, dominates global taro production but continues to experience substantial yield gaps compared to high-performing producers in Oceania and the Americas. Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix further showed that taro research has evolved from traditional agronomic and disease-focused studies toward increasing emphasis on human nutrition, food science, and functional food applications. However, a persistent “research-production misalignment” was identified, whereby regions highly dependent on taro for food security, particularly in Africa where the crop is commonly referred to as cocoyam, remain underrepresented in global scientific contributions, while biotechnology and advanced research leadership are concentrated in Asian and Western institutions. The findings highlight the need to shift global taro development strategies from extensive land expansion toward productivity enhancement, value addition, and stronger South-South research collaboration. Unlocking the hidden potential of taro is critical not only for agricultural transformation but also for strengthening food and nutrition security under increasing climate variability.