Ethics and Malpractice

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Eco-Friendly Agriculture upholds high standards of publication ethics as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We are committed to ensuring that all published work is conducted fairly, transparently, and with academic integrity.

1. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure their work is original and unpublished. Any use of others’ work must be cited or quoted appropriately. Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical and is not tolerated.
  • Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the study. All co-authors should have approved the final version and agree to its submission.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of other work is required, and all influences should be cited.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their research or interpretation, including financial support.
  • Ethics of Research: Authors should follow ethical guidelines, especially when involving human or animal subjects. Required permissions and approvals must be clearly stated in the manuscript.
  • Multiple or Concurrent Publication: Concurrent submissions to multiple journals are prohibited and considered unethical.
  • Significant Errors: Authors must promptly inform the editors if a significant error in their published work is discovered and collaborate on retraction or correction as necessary.

2. Ethical Guidelines for Editors

  • Publication Decisions: The Editorial Board is responsible for publication decisions, considering factors like originality, importance, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • Fair Play: Manuscripts are evaluated solely based on intellectual merit, without regard to authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or political views.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and disclose information only to those involved in the publication process.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors must not use unpublished information for their own research without consent and should avoid handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.

3. Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists in editorial decisions and may help authors improve their work.
  • Promptness: Reviewers should inform the editor if they cannot review a manuscript or provide a timely review.
  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts are confidential, and reviewers must not disclose or discuss them with others unless authorized.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback and without personal criticism.
  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify any uncredited, relevant work and inform the editor of any similarities to other published content.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers should avoid reviewing manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest related to the authors, institutions, or sponsors.

4. Peer Review Policy

  • Initial Manuscript Evaluation: Editors evaluate all submissions initially for originality, relevance, and clarity. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected before peer review.
  • Type of Peer Review: The journal uses a double-blind peer review process, ensuring anonymity for both reviewers and authors.
  • Reviewer Selection: Reviewers are chosen for their expertise and ability to provide an unbiased review.
  • Review Criteria: Reviewers assess the manuscript’s originality, methodological rigor, adherence to ethical guidelines, clarity, and accuracy of references.
  • Timeframe: The peer review process typically takes 2 to 8 weeks, with further rounds if needed.
  • Final Decision: Editors make the final acceptance or rejection decision, based on reviewers' comments and recommendations.

5. Handling of Plagiarism and Misconduct

  • Plagiarism: The journal has a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Manuscripts with over 20% similarity will be returned to authors for revision. If plagiarism is detected after publication, the article will be retracted, and the authors’ institutions and funding agencies will be informed.
  • Duplicate Publication: Manuscripts submitted to the journal should not be under review elsewhere. Duplicate submissions will be rejected.
  • Article Retraction and Withdrawal: Articles may be retracted or withdrawn if they contain significant errors, ethical breaches, plagiarism, or fraudulent data. Retractions are clearly marked in the metadata and linked to the original article.

6. Intellectual Property and Ethical Approval

  • Intellectual Property Rights: Authors must obtain necessary permissions for any third-party material included in their manuscripts and respect intellectual property rights.
  • Ethical Approval: Research involving human or animal subjects must receive ethical approval from relevant bodies, and authors should comply with international ethical guidelines. Statements of ethical compliance should be included in the manuscript.