Publication Ethics & Malpractice Policy
Impact in Agriculture adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics and professional conduct, following the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record.
1. Duties of Authors
- Submit only original work that has not been previously published or is not under review elsewhere.
- Ensure accuracy and authenticity of data; fabrication or manipulation is strictly prohibited.
- Acknowledge all sources, datasets, and prior research appropriately.
- Disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.
- Follow the journal’s Author Guidelines and use the official template.
- Notify the journal immediately if significant errors are discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.
2. Duties of Editors
- Make publication decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, and relevance.
- Ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely peer-review process.
- Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
- Prevent discrimination based on gender, race, religion, nationality, or affiliation.
- Investigate ethical concerns following COPE standards and take corrective actions when needed.
3. Duties of Reviewers
- Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback.
- Maintain strict confidentiality of the manuscript and review process.
- Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review.
- Refrain from using unpublished content for personal or professional benefit.
4. Plagiarism & Research Misconduct
All submissions are screened using iThenticate. A similarity score exceeding 20% (excluding references and standard phrases) may result in immediate rejection. Cases of suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate submission, or unethical research will be investigated per COPE guidelines.
5. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any personal, financial, or professional relationships that could influence the research or evaluation process.
6. Retractions, Corrections & Expressions of Concern
When significant errors or ethical issues are identified, the journal will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE’s retraction guidelines, ensuring transparency of the scholarly record.
7. Open Access Policy
The journal provides immediate open access to all published content under the principle that free availability of research promotes global knowledge exchange and scientific advancement.