Publication Ethics

The Journal of Sustainable Agrifood Systems, Nutrition and Policy follows the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of scholarly publication.

Originality and Research Integrity

Submitted manuscripts must be original and must not involve plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication, falsification, inappropriate data manipulation, misleading image manipulation, fabricated references, citation manipulation, or undisclosed simultaneous submission. All submitted manuscripts are subject to editorial and similarity screening.

Authorship

Only individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions and accept accountability for the work should be identified as authors. Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must be justified and approved by all affected authors and the editorial office.

Conflicts of Interest and Funding

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose financial or non-financial interests that could reasonably affect their objectivity. Authors must disclose all relevant sources of financial or institutional support.

Research Ethics and Consent

Research involving human participants, personal data, biological materials, vulnerable populations, or other ethically sensitive activities must comply with applicable legal and institutional requirements. Ethics approval, informed consent, and relevant permissions must be reported where applicable.

Data and AI-Assisted Technologies

Authors remain responsible for the integrity, accuracy, originality, and confidentiality of all submitted material. Research data and supporting materials should be retained and made available where legally and ethically possible.

AI or AI-assisted technologies must not be listed as authors and must not be used to fabricate data, references, images, or evidence. Material use of such technologies should be disclosed where necessary for transparency.

Citation and Image Integrity

Citations must be accurate, relevant, and genuinely consulted. Coercive citation, citation cartels, fabricated citations, and unjustified self-citation are prohibited.

Images must not be manipulated in ways that alter or misrepresent research findings. Editors may request original files where integrity concerns arise.

Corrections, Retractions, Complaints, and Appeals

The journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions where significant errors, unreliable findings, or research misconduct are identified.

Complaints regarding editorial conduct or publication ethics may be submitted to the editorial office. Authors may appeal an editorial decision by providing a concise, evidence-based explanation of a material factual, ethical, or procedural error.