Bibliometric-Based Analysis of Global Trends and Collaborative Networks in Plant Genetic Engineering (1994-2024)

Abstract

Agricultural sustainability faces serious challenges from population growth, climate change and ecological degradation. Genetic modification (GM) technology can be regarded as a precise extension of the Green Revolution, aiming to balance yield enhancement with ecological integrity through biotechnology. To systematically examine global trend, this study conducts a bibliometric analysis using worldwide literature data from 1994 to 2024. The findings reveal a dual-core structure of international collaboration, centered on China and the United States. The United States is closely connected with Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom, forming a high-density cluster, while China engages with emerging regions in Southeast Asia and Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative is intended to strengthen China's influence and is accompanied by the proliferation of technology in countries less endowed with resources. The technology lifecycle has been evolved through three distinct phases. Initially, the process of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in tobacco plants was carried out, marking the beginning of transgenic development. This was followed by the implementation of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to silence multiple genes. Finally, a breakthrough happened through the development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technologies. The analyses conducted in this study demonstrate the preponderance of CRISPR in contemporary research, thus suggesting that the industry places a premium on technological refinement. Hence, the future technological trajectory is predicted to focus on germplasm digitization, multi-gene editing, intelligent breeding and synthetic biology. Transgenic technology will serve as a foundational support for achieving sustainable food security in the forthcoming second green revolution.

Keywords: Bibliometrics; CRISPR; GM; genetic engineering.