About the Journal
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability (JAS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing research and innovation at the intersection of agricultural development and environmental sustainability. JAS provides a global platform for academics, practitioners, and policymakers to share knowledge, technologies, and practices that promote resilient food systems, sustainable land use, and climate-smart agriculture.
The journal welcomes original research, reviews, case studies, and policy analyses that address:
- Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Innovations in crop and livestock production that enhance productivity while conserving natural resources.
- Agroecology and Biodiversity: Research on ecological approaches to farming, soil health, pollinator conservation, and ecosystem services.
- Climate Change and Agriculture: Studies on adaptation, mitigation, and the impact of climate variability on agricultural systems.
- Food Security and Nutrition: Strategies to improve access to nutritious food through sustainable production and distribution.
- Rural Development and Livelihoods: Insights into the socio-economic dimensions of agriculture, including gender equity, smallholder empowerment, and rural resilience.
- Agricultural Policy and Governance: Analysis of policies, regulations, and institutional frameworks that support sustainable agriculture.
- Technology and Innovation: Applications of digital tools, precision agriculture, biotechnology, and renewable energy in farming systems.
- Biopesticides and biofertilisers as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional inputs.
JAS aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and practical solutions that support the transition to sustainable agriculture worldwide. By promoting evidence-based research and inclusive perspectives, the journal contributes to the global effort to achieve food security, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic sustainability.
Aims & Scope
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability (JAS) aims to promote interdisciplinary research and practical innovation that support sustainable agricultural development and environmental stewardship. The journal serves as a platform for scholarly contributions that address the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of agriculture in the context of global sustainability challenges.
JAS welcomes original research, reviews, case studies, and policy analyses in areas including:
- Sustainable farming systems and resource-efficient practices.
- Agroecology, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem services.
- Biopesticides and biofertilisers as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional inputs.
- Climate-smart agriculture and resilience to environmental change.
- Food security, nutrition, and equitable food distribution.
- Rural livelihoods, socio-economic development, and gender equity.
- Agricultural policy, governance, and institutional frameworks.
- Technological innovation, including digital agriculture and renewable energy applications.
The journal encourages submissions that combine scientific rigour with practical relevance, and that contribute to the transformation of agriculture towards sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.
Editorial Policies
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the integrity, quality, and credibility of published research. The review process is designed to maintain fairness, transparency, and adherence to international standards of scholarly publishing.
Steps in the Review Process
1. Initial Submission Check
Ø Manuscripts are screened by the Editorial Office for compliance with author guidelines, formatting requirements, and ethical standards (plagiarism, originality, and scope relevance).
Ø Submissions that fail to meet basic requirements may be returned to the authors for correction or declined without external review.
2. Editorial Assessment
Ø The Editor-in-Chief or a designated Section Editor conducts an initial evaluation of the manuscript’s originality, significance, and fit within the journal’s aims and scope.
Ø Suitable manuscripts are sent for peer review; unsuitable ones may be rejected at this stage.
3. Reviewer Selection
Ø At least two qualified, independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant subject area are invited.
Ø Reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest before accepting the review.
4. Double-Blind Review
Ø Both the authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.
Ø Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on: originality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, clarity of presentation, and contribution to the field.
5. Reviewer Recommendations
Reviewers provide one of the following recommendations:
o Accept without revision
o Minor revision required
o Major revision required
o Rejection
6. Editorial Decision
Ø The Editor-in-Chief (or handling editor) makes the final decision based on reviewers’ reports and the journal’s editorial standards.
Ø Authors receive constructive feedback and, where applicable, are invited to revise and resubmit their manuscript.
7. Revision and Resubmission
Ø Authors are expected to address all reviewer and editor comments and submit a revised version within the specified timeline.
Ø Revised manuscripts may be re-reviewed if necessary.
8. Final Decision and Acceptance
Ø Once all revisions are satisfactorily addressed, the manuscript is formally accepted for publication.
Ø Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, typesetting, and proofing prior to online publication.
9. Post-Publication Oversight
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability upholds publication ethics and may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern where necessary, in line with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
TABS JOURNALS EDITORIAL PROCESS
Appeals and Complaints Process
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in its editorial decision-making. Authors and reviewers may raise appeals or complaints if they believe an editorial decision or review outcome was not handled appropriately.
Grounds for Appeal
Authors may submit an appeal if they believe that:
Ø The editorial or peer review process was not conducted according to the journal’s stated policies.
Ø The decision was based on a misunderstanding, factual error, or misinterpretation of the manuscript.
Ø Relevant information or context was overlooked in the editorial assessment.
Appeals cannot be based solely on disagreement with the editorial decision.
Procedure for Appeals
1. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days of receiving the decision.
2. The appeal must clearly state:
o The grounds for appeal.
o Supporting evidence or justification.
o Any relevant documentation (e.g., response to reviewer comments).
3. The Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal and may:
o Reconsider the decision in light of new information.
o Consult additional independent editorial board members or reviewers.
o Uphold the original decision if it remains justified.
4. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to the author within 4–6 weeks.
5. The decision of the Editor-in-Chief after the appeal is final.
Complaints
Authors, reviewers, or readers may lodge complaints regarding:
Ø Editorial handling and communication.
Ø Peer review conduct (e.g., unprofessional, biased, or unethical reviews).
Ø Suspected breaches of publication ethics (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate submission).
Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office and will be handled in accordance with COPE’s Core Practices.
Confidentiality and Integrity
All appeals and complaints are handled confidentially.
The process is designed to ensure impartiality, fairness, and transparency.
Records of appeals and complaints are maintained for accountability and future process improvement.
At TABS Journals, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in academic publishing. Allegations of misconduct are treated with seriousness, confidentiality, and fairness.
What Constitutes Misconduct?
Misconduct may include:
Ø Data fabrication or falsification
Ø Plagiarism
Ø Duplicate or redundant publication
Ø Authorship disputes
Ø Undisclosed conflicts of interest
Ø Image or data manipulation
Ø Peer review interference
How to Report Misconduct
Anyone may report suspected misconduct, authors, reviewers, readers, or whistleblowers. Reports should be sent to [insert editorial contact email] and must include:
Ø A clear description of the allegation
Ø Any supporting evidence
Ø Contact details (optional for anonymous reports)
Anonymous reports will be considered if supported by credible evidence.
Investigation Process
Initial Review
The Editor-in-Chief or designated staff will conduct a confidential preliminary assessment. If the claim is credible, the corresponding author will be contacted for clarification.
Institutional Referral
If necessary, the case will be referred to the author’s institution or relevant authority. TABS Journals will cooperate fully with institutional investigations.
Possible Outcomes
Depending on the findings, actions may include:
o Rejection or retraction of the manuscript
o Issuance of corrections or expressions of concern
o Notification of co-authors, funders, or other journals
o Temporary or permanent submission bans
Confidentiality and Transparency
All allegations are handled discreetly. Identities of involved parties are protected to the extent possible. Final decisions will be documented and, when appropriate, publicly disclosed to uphold the integrity of the scholarly record.
Corrections, Retractions, and Matters Arising
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. We recognise that errors, concerns, or ethical issues may occasionally arise after publication. This policy outlines how Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability handles post-publication updates, including corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.
Corrections
Corrections are issued when a published article contains an error that affects its accuracy but does not compromise the overall validity of the findings. These may include:
Ø Minor errors in data, figures, or text
Ø Author name misspellings or affiliation updates
Ø Omissions in acknowledgements or funding statements
Corrections are published as a separate notice, linked to the original article, and clearly labelled as a “Correction”.
Retractions
A retraction is issued when a published article is found to contain serious flaws or misconduct that invalidate its findings. Grounds for retraction include:
Ø Fabrication or falsification of data
Ø Plagiarism or duplicate publication
Ø Unethical research practices
Ø Major errors that undermine the conclusions
Retractions are published as a formal notice, clearly stating the reason for retraction, and linked to the original article, which remains accessible but marked as retracted. The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability follows the retraction guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Expressions of Concern
An expression of concern may be issued when:
Ø There is inconclusive evidence of misconduct
Ø An investigation is ongoing
Ø There are concerns about the integrity of the article, but insufficient information to warrant a retraction
Ø This notice alerts readers to potential issues while further clarification is sought.
Matters Arising
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability welcomes scholarly dialogue and encourages readers to raise concerns or questions about published content. Matters arising may include:
Ø Technical clarifications
Ø Alternative interpretations
Ø Methodological critiques
Such correspondence may be published as a Letter to the Editor or Commentary, subject to editorial and peer review. Authors of the original article will be given an opportunity to respond.
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability upholds the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all stakeholders, authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers, to adhere to these principles.
Responsibilities of Authors
Ø Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works and free from plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification. Proper citation of sources is mandatory.
Ø Authorship: Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All contributors must be properly acknowledged.
Ø Multiple Submissions: Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
Ø Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that may influence their research.
Ø Data Transparency: Authors should provide access to data supporting their findings when requested and comply with open data standards where applicable.
Responsibilities of Editors
Ø Fair Evaluation: Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on the basis of academic merit, without regard to race, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs of the authors.
Ø Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality of all submissions and not disclose information beyond those involved in the review and publication process.
Ø Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.
Ø Publication Decisions: Final decisions are based on the manuscript’s originality, quality, significance, and alignment with the journal’s scope.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Ø Objectivity: Reviewers should provide constructive, unbiased, and timely feedback. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.
Ø Confidentiality: Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and not shared without permission.
Ø Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline review assignments if conflicts of interest exist with the authors or research.
Ø Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.
Responsibilities of the Publisher (TABS Press)
Ø Ensures that good practice is maintained throughout the publication process.
Ø Upholds transparency in editorial and review processes.
Ø Responds promptly to ethical concerns, misconduct, or disputes.
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to maintaining integrity and transparency in the assignment of authorship. Authorship must accurately reflect individuals’ contributions to the research and writing process. The journal follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria and COPE guidelines in defining and regulating authorship.
Authorship Criteria
To qualify as an author, an individual must have made substantial contributions in at least all four of the following areas:
1. Conception or design of the study; or acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
2. Drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
3. Final approval of the version to be published.
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring integrity and accuracy.
Individuals who meet all four criteria should be listed as authors.
Acknowledgment of Contributions
Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgements” section. Authors may acknowledge:
Ø Laboratory technicians, research assistants, or administrative staff
Ø Colleagues who provided feedback or informal peer review
Ø Individuals who assisted with data collection, analysis, or translation
Ø Professional writers or editors who contributed to manuscript preparation
Ø Institutions or agencies that provided access to research sites or materials
Ø Funding bodies, grant providers, or scholarship programmes
Order of Authors
Ø The order of authors should reflect the relative contribution of each individual.
Ø All authors must agree on the author sequence before submission.
Ø Disputes over authorship order will not be adjudicated by the journal; such matters must be resolved at the institutional level before submission.
Corresponding Author Responsibilities
The corresponding author acts as the primary point of contact with the journal and is responsible for:
Ø Ensuring that all authors meet the authorship criteria.
Ø Coordinating manuscript preparation, submission, and revisions.
Ø Handling correspondence during the peer review and post-publication processes.
Ø Ensuring that all conflicts of interest and funding sources are properly disclosed.
Changes to Authorship
Ø Requests for addition, removal, or reordering of authors after submission must be approved by all authors and explained in writing to the Editorial Office.
Ø Such changes require the explicit approval of the Editor-in-Chief.
Ø Authorship cannot be changed after final acceptance without strong justification.
Policy on Authorship Changes
Ø Requests for Change: Any request to add, remove, or rearrange authors must be submitted in writing to the editorial office by the corresponding author.
Ø Consent Required: The request must include a clear reason for the change and written confirmation of agreement from all listed authors (including the author(s) being added or removed).
Ø Editorial Approval: Changes will only be implemented with the approval of the Editor-in-Chief.
Ø Timing: Authorship changes are only considered before acceptance and publication of the manuscript. Once published, authorship cannot be altered.
Disputes
If consensus cannot be reached among authors, Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability will refer the case to the authors’ institution(s) for resolution in accordance with COPE guidelines.
Author Contributions Statement
Ø Authors may be asked to provide a contributorship statement specifying each author’s role in the research and writing process.
Ø Statements should align with the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system, which includes roles such as:
o Conceptualization
o Methodology
o Data curation
o Formal analysis
o Writing – original draft
o Writing – review & editing
o Supervision
o Funding acquisition
Ethical Compliance
Ø Ghost authorship (unacknowledged contributors) and guest/honorary authorship (listing individuals without significant contributions) are strictly prohibited.
Ø Misrepresentation of authorship will result in rejection or retraction and may be reported to relevant institutions
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
A conflict of interest, occurs when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional affiliations could inappropriately influence (or be perceived to influence) their judgement, objectivity, or integrity in the publication process.
Competing interests may be:
Ø Financial: e.g. funding, employment, stock ownership, paid consultancy, or patent applications
Ø Non-financial: e.g. personal relationships, academic rivalry, political or religious beliefs, or institutional affiliations
Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing their work.
Disclosure Requirements
All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential competing interests relevant to the submitted work.
For Authors:
A declaration of competing interests must be included in the manuscript under a clearly labelled section titled “Competing Interests”.
If there are no conflicts to declare, authors must state: “The authors declare no competing interests.”
For Reviewers:
Reviewers must disclose any conflicts that could affect their impartiality (e.g. recent collaboration with the authors, institutional ties).
If a conflict exists, reviewers should decline the invitation to review.
For Editors:
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.
Funding Transparency
Authors must clearly state all sources of funding for the research, including grant numbers and the role of the funder in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication.
Undisclosed Conflicts
Failure to disclose competing interests may result in:
Ø Rejection or retraction of the manuscript
Ø Notification to the authors’ affiliated institutions
Ø Public correction or editorial expression of concern
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling such cases.
Accountability
All authors share collective responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the published work. In cases of research misconduct or disputes, the journal will follow COPE’s authorship dispute guidelines.
Reporting Standards and Availability of Data, Materials, Code, and Protocols
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in scientific research. Authors are expected to adhere to recognised reporting standards and ensure that sufficient information is provided to allow others to replicate and build upon their work.
Reporting Standards
Authors must follow appropriate reporting guidelines relevant to their study design and discipline. These may include, but are not limited to:
CONSORT for randomised controlled trials
PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
STROBE for observational studies
ARRIVE for animal research
MIAME for microarray experiments
A completed checklist should be submitted where applicable, and the use of a reporting guideline should be stated in the manuscript.
Data Availability and FAIR Principles
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and responsible data sharing in scientific research. In line with international best practices, Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability encourages authors to make their data openly available and to adhere to the FAIR principles, ensuring that data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
Data Availability Statement
All submitted manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement that clearly outlines where and how the data supporting the findings can be accessed. This statement should appear in a dedicated section of the manuscript and must specify:
Ø Whether the data are publicly available
Ø The name of the repository or database
Ø Any access restrictions or conditions
Ø A persistent identifier (e.g. DOI or accession number)
Example: > “The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available in the Zenodo repository, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567.”
If data cannot be shared due to ethical, legal, or confidentiality constraints, authors must provide a clear justification.
FAIR Data and ALCOA plus Principles
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability encourages authors to manage and share their data in accordance with the FAIR principles:
|
FAIR |
Data Principles |
|
Principle |
Description |
|
Findable |
Data should be assigned a persistent identifier (e.g. DOI) and described with rich metadata to enable discovery. |
|
Accessible |
Data should be retrievable using standard protocols, with clear access conditions (open or restricted). |
|
Interoperable |
Data should use standard formats, vocabularies, and ontologies to allow integration with other datasets. |
|
Reusable |
Data should be well-documented and licensed to permit reuse by others, with clear provenance and usage terms. |
|
ALCOA plus |
Data Integrity Principles |
|
Principle |
Description |
|
Attributable |
Every piece of data must be traceable to the person who generated it |
|
Legible |
Data must be readable and understandable |
|
Contemporaneous |
Data should be recorded at the time the activity is performed |
|
Original |
The first recording of the data should be preserved |
|
Accurate |
Data must reflect the true observation or result, without manipulation or error |
|
Consistent |
Data should follow a logical sequence and be recorded in a uniform manner |
|
Enduring |
Data should be recorded on durable media and preserved for the required retention |
|
Available |
Data must be accessible for review or audit when needed |
Authors are encouraged to deposit data in trusted, discipline-specific or general-purpose repositories that support FAIR and ALCOA principles, such as:
Ø Zenodo
Ø Figshare
Ø Dryad
Ø NCBI GenBank
Ø EMBL-EBI
Ø Mendeley Data
Supplementary Data and Materials
Where appropriate, authors may also submit supplementary datasets, tables, figures, or code alongside their manuscript. These materials will be published with the article and must be clearly referenced in the main text.
Ethical and Legal Considerations
Authors must ensure that:
Ø Data sharing complies with ethical approvals and participant consent
Ø Personal or sensitive data are anonymised or de-identified
Ø Data sharing does not breach institutional, legal, or contractual obligations
Materials and Reagents
Authors should provide sufficient detail on materials, reagents, and experimental conditions to enable replication. Where unique or proprietary materials were used, authors must state how these can be obtained, or provide a rationale if access is restricted.
Code and Software
Ø Authors using custom code, scripts, or software in their analysis must make these resources openly available, preferably via platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
Ø A link to the repository and a brief description of the code should be included in the manuscript.
Ø If the code is not publicly available, authors must explain why.
Protocols
Ø Detailed experimental protocols should be included in the Methods section or provided as supplementary material.
Ø Authors are encouraged to deposit protocols in open-access repositories such as protocols.io and include the DOI in the manuscript.
Supplementary Information
Supplementary files (e.g. datasets, figures, tables, videos) should be submitted alongside the manuscript and clearly referenced within the text. These materials will be published online with the article.
Editorial Review and Compliance
The editorial team reserves the right to request access to data, materials, or code during the review process. Failure to comply with these standards may delay publication or result in rejection.
Image Integrity and Standards
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability upholds the highest standards of image integrity to ensure that all visual data presented in published articles accurately reflect the original research findings. Authors are expected to prepare and present images in a manner that is honest, transparent, and free from manipulation that could mislead readers or distort scientific interpretation.
Acceptable Image Adjustments
Authors may make limited adjustments to images for clarity and presentation, provided these do not alter the original data or misrepresent the results. Acceptable modifications include:
Ø Uniform adjustments to brightness, contrast, or colour balance across the entire image
Ø Cropping to improve clarity or focus, provided it does not remove relevant data
Ø Labelling or annotation for explanatory purposes, clearly indicated in the figure legend
All adjustments must be applied consistently and described in the figure legend if they affect interpretation.
Unacceptable Manipulations
The following practices are considered unethical and are strictly prohibited:
Ø Selective enhancement, deletion, or obscuring of features within an image
Ø Splicing or combining images from different experiments without clear demarcation and explanation
Ø Duplication of images across multiple figures or publications without appropriate citation or disclosure
Ø Use of filters or software tools that distort the original data
Any attempt to manipulate images in a way that could mislead readers will be treated as a serious breach of research integrity.
Image Submission Guidelines
Ø Images must be submitted in high-resolution formats (e.g. TIFF, JPEG, PNG) suitable for publication
Ø Microscopy images should include scale bars and indicate magnification where appropriate
Ø Composite images must clearly indicate the boundaries between panels and include a description of each component
Ø Original, unprocessed image files may be requested by the editorial office during peer review or post-publication checks
Image Copyright and Permissions
Authors must ensure they have the legal right to use and reproduce all images included in their manuscript. If images are reproduced from previously published work, appropriate permissions must be obtained and acknowledged.
Editorial Oversight
All submitted images are subject to editorial scrutiny. The editorial team may use image forensics tools to detect manipulation. If concerns arise regarding image integrity, authors may be asked to provide original data or explanations. Proven cases of image manipulation may result in rejection, retraction, or notification to the authors’ institutions.
Preprints and Conference Proceedings Policy
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability recognises the value of early research dissemination and supports responsible sharing of scientific findings through preprints and conference proceedings. This policy outlines the journal’s position on the submission, citation, and publication of work that has previously appeared in these formats.
Preprints
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability welcomes submissions of manuscripts that have previously been posted as preprints, provided that:
Ø The preprint is clearly cited and disclosed at the time of submission
Ø The manuscript has not been peer-reviewed or formally published elsewhere
Ø The content of the preprint has not been altered in a way that misrepresents the original findings
Author Responsibilities
Ø Authors must include a statement in the cover letter and manuscript indicating the preprint’s DOI or URL
Ø The preprint must be hosted on a recognised, non-commercial preprint server (e.g. bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv)
Ø Upon publication in Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with a citation and link to the final published version
Editorial Considerations
Ø Preprints will not be considered prior publication
Ø Reviewers will be informed if a preprint version exists, but the peer review will be conducted independently
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability reserves the right to reject a manuscript if the preprint has received public criticism that raises concerns about its validity or ethics
Conference Proceedings
Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability accepts submissions that are extended or revised versions of work previously presented at conferences, provided that:
Ø The original conference version is cited and disclosed at the time of submission
Ø The submitted manuscript contains substantial new content, analysis, or interpretation
Ø The conference version has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal
Author Responsibilities
Ø Authors must clearly state in the cover letter and manuscript that the work is based on a conference presentation
Ø The manuscript must include a citation to the original abstract or proceedings paper, if published
Ø Authors must ensure that they hold the rights to republish the content, especially if the proceedings were published by another entity
Citation of Preprints and Proceedings
Ø Authors may cite preprints and conference proceedings in their reference lists, provided they are clearly labelled as such
Ø Preprints should include the DOI or permanent URL
Ø Conference papers should include the name, date, and location of the event, and the proceedings title if available
Example (Preprint): > Smith, J. & Okoro, T. (2024). Microbial interactions in urban soils. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.15.123456
Example (Conference): > Ahmed, L. (2023). Bioremediation potential of indigenous bacteria. Presented at the 12th African Microbiology Congress, Accra, Ghana.
Ethical Considerations
Ø Authors must not submit identical or near-identical versions of the same work to multiple journals or conferences simultaneously
Ø Any concerns about duplicate publication or self-plagiarism will be investigated in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet the journal’s originality and ethical standards
AI Usage
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability (JAS) recognises the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research, writing, data analysis, and peer review. To ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability, JAS has established the following policy regarding the use of AI in submitted manuscripts:
1. Disclosure of AI Use
Authors must clearly disclose any use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ø AI-assisted writing or editing (e.g., language models like ChatGPT).
Ø AI-based data analysis, modeling, or visualisation.
Ø Use of AI in experimental design or simulation.
Disclosure should be included in a separate section after Acknowledgments section.
2. Authorship and Accountability
AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Only individuals who meet the journal’s authorship criteria, such as contributing to the conception, execution, and interpretation of the work, may be credited as authors. Human authors are fully responsible for the content generated or assisted by AI tools.
3. Ethical Use
AI must be used ethically and in accordance with research integrity standards. Authors must ensure that:
Ø AI-generated content is accurate and free from bias or misinformation.
Ø Data privacy and confidentiality are maintained when using AI tools.
Ø AI use does not result in plagiarism or misrepresentation of original work.
4. Peer Review and Editorial Use
JAS may use AI tools to assist in plagiarism detection, language enhancement, reviewer matching, but review and final decisions are made by human editors and reviewers. AI will not be used to replace peer review.
5. AI in Standards Development
Submissions involving AI-generated or AI-supported standards, protocols, or frameworks must include a clear explanation of the AI’s role, limitations, and validation procedures.
6. Transparency and Reproducibility
Authors are encouraged to provide access to AI models, code, or datasets used in their research, where applicable, to support reproducibility and transparency.
Press and Embargo Policies
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability recognises the importance of responsible science communication and supports media engagement that accurately represents published research. This policy outlines the journal’s approach to press releases, media coverage, and embargoes to ensure fair and coordinated dissemination of scientific findings.
Press Releases and Media Coverage
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability encourages authors and institutions to promote their published work through press releases, interviews, and media outreach. To maintain accuracy and integrity:
Ø Press releases must reflect the content of the final, peer-reviewed version of the article.
Ø Authors are encouraged to coordinate with their institutional press offices and the Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability editorial team when preparing media materials.
Ø Any quotes or summaries should avoid exaggeration or misrepresentation of the findings.
Ø The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability may also issue its own press releases for selected articles of public interest or scientific significance.
Embargo Policy
An embargo is a restriction placed on the public release of information until a specified date and time. Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability uses embargoes to ensure that all stakeholders, authors, journalists, and the public, have equal and fair access to new research.
Embargo Conditions:
Ø All accepted articles are subject to an embargo until the official date and time of online publication.
Ø Journalists and media outlets may receive advance access to embargoed content under strict confidentiality.
Ø Authors must not publicly discuss or promote their accepted manuscript (e.g. via press releases, blogs, or social media) before the embargo lifts.
Violating the embargo may result in withdrawal of media access or delay in publication.
Collaboration with Journalists
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability welcomes collaboration with science journalists and media professionals. Journalists may request:
Ø Advance copies of forthcoming articles under embargo
Ø Interviews with authors or editorial board members
Ø Clarification of scientific content for accurate reporting
All media enquiries should be directed to the editorial office. Journalists granted early access must agree to respect the embargo and cite Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability as the source of the research.
Social Media and Public Commentary
Authors are encouraged to share their published work on social media platforms, academic networks, and personal websites, after the embargo has lifted. Posts should:
Ø Link to the final published version of the article
Ø Accurately reflect the findings and avoid sensationalism
Ø Acknowledge JAS as the publishing journal
Authors may not share full-text versions of the article unless permitted under the journal’s open access licence (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Confidentiality Policy
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer review process. All parties involved, authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff, are expected to uphold strict confidentiality to protect the integrity of the scholarly publishing process and the rights of contributors.
Confidentiality of Submitted Manuscripts
Ø All manuscripts submitted to JAS are treated as confidential documents.
Ø They must not be shared, discussed, or disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team and assigned reviewers, unless explicit permission is granted by the Editor-in-Chief.
Ø Manuscripts may only be used for the purpose of peer review and editorial evaluation.
Reviewer Confidentiality
Reviewers are bound by the following confidentiality obligations:
Ø They must not disclose, discuss, or use any part of the manuscript or its supplementary materials for personal or professional gain.
Ø They must not attempt to identify or contact the authors.
Ø If a reviewer wishes to consult a colleague for a second opinion, they must first obtain permission from the editorial office.
Ø Reviewers must destroy or delete all copies of the manuscript after completing their review.
Author Confidentiality
Ø Authors must not attempt to identify or contact reviewers during or after the review process.
Ø All correspondence with the journal must be treated as confidential and not shared publicly.
Ø If a manuscript is rejected or withdrawn, authors may not use reviewer comments or editorial correspondence in any public forum without permission.
Editorial Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff are responsible for:
Ø Ensuring that all manuscript-related information is kept confidential and only shared with individuals directly involved in the editorial process
Ø Not disclosing the identity of reviewers to authors or vice versa
Ø Not using any unpublished material from a submitted manuscript for their own research or benefit
Breaches of Confidentiality
Any breach of confidentiality, intentional or otherwise, will be taken seriously and may result in:
Ø Removal of the reviewer or editor from the journal’s database
Ø Rejection or retraction of the manuscript
Ø Notification to the individual’s institution or funding body
Ø Further action in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines
Exceptions
Confidentiality may be waived under the following circumstances:
Ø With the explicit written consent of all parties involved
Ø If required by law or in response to a formal investigation into research misconduct
Ø When publishing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern, where transparency is necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to the principle of open access publishing and believes that freely accessible research promotes wider dissemination of knowledge, accelerates innovation, and enhances global academic collaboration.
Open Access Statement
All content published in Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is subject to:
Ø Accessibility: All content published in JAS is freely accessible online to readers worldwide, without subscription fees or paywall restrictions.
Ø Author Rights: Authors retain significant rights to their published work, ensuring control over its use and distribution.
Ø Reader Rights: Readers are granted broad permissions to use, share, and build upon published articles, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and source.
Archiving and Accessibility
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability ensures permanent availability of published content through digital archiving in recognized repositories and indexing services.
Ø Authors are encouraged to deposit their published articles in institutional repositories, subject repositories, or personal websites immediately after publication (self-archiving).
Ethics and Compliance
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability adheres to the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access.
Ø The journal complies with international ethical standards and policies on transparency and accessibility in scholarly publishing.
Indexing and Archiving
Indexing
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is committed to ensuring maximum visibility and accessibility of its published content. The journal actively pursues inclusion in reputable indexing and abstracting databases to enhance the discoverability, impact, and academic recognition of authors’ work.
The journal is structured to meet international indexing standards and is in the process of applying for inclusion in:
Ø Google Scholar
Ø Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
Ø Crossref (DOI registration)
Ø EBSCOhost
Ø Scopus
Ø Web of Science (Emerging Sources Citation Index – ESCI)
Ø Other relevant discipline-specific indexes.
Archiving and Digital Preservation
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability ensures long-term digital preservation of its published content using the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform.
Ø LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe): The journal is integrated with the LOCKSS system to ensure secure and permanent archiving.
Ø CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS): Participates in CLOCKSS for decentralized preservation and restoration.
Ø PKP PN (Preservation Network): Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability utilises the PKP Preservation Network to provide distributed preservation of content at no cost.
Ø Self-Archiving Policy (Green Open Access): Authors are permitted and encouraged to deposit their published articles in institutional repositories, subject repositories, or personal websites immediately after publication.
Metadata and Discoverability
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability assigns Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to all published articles for persistent identification and reliable citation.
Ø Metadata is structured to be harvested via the OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting), ensuring integration with international databases and library catalogues.
Revenue Sources
At Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability, we are committed to sustainable and ethical publishing. To maintain high-quality editorial standards and ensure open access to scholarly content, we rely on a diversified revenue model. Our sources of revenue include:
1. Article Processing Charges (APCs)
Authors may be required to pay a fee upon acceptance of their manuscript to cover editorial, peer review, and production costs. APCs help ensure that published articles remain freely accessible to readers worldwide.
Article Processing Charges (APC) Policy
The Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability (JAS) operates under an open-access publishing model to ensure that all articles are freely available to readers worldwide. To support the costs associated with editorial processing, peer review, digital archiving, and platform maintenance, JAS applies an Article Processing Charge (APC) to accepted manuscripts.
APC Structure
Ø A standard APC is charged for each accepted article.
Ø The APC covers all publishing services, including editorial review, typesetting, DOI assignment, indexing, and long-term archiving.
Ø The APC amount is reviewed annually and may vary depending on article type (e.g., original research vs. technical report).
Waivers and Discounts
JAS is committed to equitable access and offers:
Ø Full waivers for authors from low-income countries as classified by the World Bank.
Ø Partial discounts for authors from lower-middle-income countries or those without institutional funding.
Ø Special waivers for invited articles, editorial board members, or authors facing financial hardship.
(Eligibility for waivers begins when the APC is set at $1,000 or higher)
Authors may request a waiver during the submission process, and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
Payment Process
Ø APCs are payable only after the article has been accepted for publication.
Ø Payment instructions are provided upon acceptance.
Ø Institutional or grant-based payments are accepted, and JAS encourages authors to include APCs in their funding proposals.
No Submission Fees
JAS does not charge any fees for submitting a manuscript. APCs apply only to accepted articles.
Transparency
JAS maintains transparency in its APC policy and does not engage in hidden charges or fast-track fees. All APC-related information is publicly available on the journal’s website.
2. Advertising
Selective advertising may be displayed on our website or within journal issues. All advertising is vetted to ensure it aligns with our academic mission and does not compromise editorial independence.
3. Sponsorships and Grants
We seek sponsorships from academic societies, foundations, and government agencies to support specific journals, special issues, or research themes.
4. Value-Added Services
Optional services such as expedited peer review, enhanced formatting, or promotional support may be offered for a fee. These services are designed to assist authors without affecting editorial decisions.
Compliance with Funders
JAS’s open access policy is fully aligned with the requirements of major research funders and institutions that mandate public access to research outputs. This includes compliance with:
Ø Plan S and the cOAlition S principles, which require immediate open access under a CC BY license and deposition in a recognised repository.
Ø Horizon Europe, UKRI, NIH, NSF, Wellcome Trust, and other global funding bodies that mandate open access publishing.
Ø Institutional policies that require authors to retain rights to their work and ensure public availability of funded research.
Copyright and Licensing
All content published in the Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability is protected by copyright held by the journal, unless otherwise stated. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal the right of first publication.
The works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Authors are free to:
Ø Share: copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Ø Adapt: remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following terms:
Ø Attribution: You must give appropriate credit to the author(s) and the journal, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
Ø NonCommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
Any commercial use of the content requires prior written permission from both the author(s) and the Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability
Diversity and Inclusion
Ø Journal of Agriculture and Sustainability ’s commitment to diversity in authorship, editorial board membership, and reviewer selection.
Ø Encouragement of submissions from students, early-career researchers, and underrepresented groups.
Contact Information
Ø Editorial Office email and correspondence details.
Ø journal.manager@tabsjournals.com
