Consolidated Evidence on Research Expansion and Innovation Pathways in Fermented‑Food and Gut‑Health Studies (2010–2025)

Abstract

Fermented foods are increasingly studied as complex food–microbial systems with potential relevance to gut health through microorganisms, fermentation-derived metabolites, bioactive compounds, and interactions with the gut microbiome. However, research remains uneven across food matrices, microbial systems, geographical settings, and health-related mechanisms. This study mapped the research landscape of fermented foods and gut health from 2010 to 2025, characterized its intellectual, thematic, and geographic structure, identified potential research gaps and innovation white spaces, and developed the GAP-TO-GROWTH Technology Innovation Pathways Framework. A bibliometric analysis of 642 Scopus-indexed articles was conducted using established performance-analysis and science-mapping approaches. Publication activity increased markedly after 2020, with fermentation, fermented foods, probiotics, microorganisms, gut microbiota, and functional foods forming the principal knowledge core. Emerging research increasingly addressed microbiome-related concepts, metabolites, bioactive compounds, and health-oriented mechanisms. Six potential innovation white spaces were identified: diversification of food matrices and indigenous fermentation resources; novel microbial and fermentation systems; food–microbe–metabolite–gut integration; mechanistic gut-health validation; metabolite and postbiotic applications; and interdisciplinary collaboration. The GAP-TO-GROWTH framework extends conventional bibliometric mapping by translating these evidence patterns into a structured pathway from Research Landscape and Dominant Themes through Knowledge Gaps and Innovation White Spaces to Technology Opportunities and Innovation Pathways. It therefore provides an evidence-informed structure for research prioritization, technology-oriented development, and innovation planning while recognizing that identified opportunities require independent validation of feasibility, safety, health effects, regulatory requirements, and commercialization potential.

Keywords: fermented foods; gut health; bibliometric analysis; science mapping; innovation gaps; white spaces; technology innovation pathways