Editorial and Peer Review Processes

The Journal of Research in Agriculture and Food Sciences follows a rigorous, transparent, and ethical editorial and peer review process to ensure the publication of high-quality and scientifically sound articles. Our editorial policies align with the guidelines and ethical standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Initial Editorial Assessment

Upon submission, each manuscript is first reviewed by the editorial office to ensure:

• Compliance with journal scope and submission guidelines

• Completeness of submission (metadata, declarations, figures, etc.)

• Adherence to ethical standards (plagiarism, data integrity)

• Basic scientific and structural quality

Manuscripts that do not meet the basic requirements may be rejected or returned to the authors for preliminary revisions before peer review.

2. Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to an appropriate Editor or Section Editor, who will invite at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise for double-blind peer review (reviewers do not know the identity of the authors, and authors do not know the identity of the reviewers).

During the peer review process, reviewers assess the manuscript based on:

• Originality and significance of the research

• Methodological rigor and validity of results

• Clarity, structure, and relevance of discussion

• Appropriateness of references and conclusions

Based on the reviewers' reports, the editor will make one of the following decisions:

• Accept with or without minor revisions

• Request major revisions

• Reject the manuscript

3. Revision and Re-evaluation

If revisions are requested, the authors are expected to submit a revised manuscript along with a detailed response to reviewers, explaining how each comment was addressed. The revised manuscript may be:

• Accepted directly by the editor

• Sent back to the same or new reviewers for additional review

• Returned to the authors for further revision

• Rejected if major concerns remain unresolved

4. Editorial Decision and Acceptance

Once the manuscript meets the journal's scientific and ethical standards, it is accepted for publication. The final decision lies with the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewer feedback and editorial judgment.

5. Copyediting and Proofing

Accepted articles undergo:

• Copyediting for clarity, grammar, and formatting

• Reference and citation checks

• Final author proofreading before publication

Editors may request additional information, clarifications, or formatting changes at this stage to ensure publication quality.

6. Confidentiality and Anonymity

The journal uses a double-blind review process. Authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other throughout the review process. All submitted materials are treated as confidential by editors and reviewers.

This policy ensures fairness, transparency, and academic integrity in our publication process, and supports the publication of high-quality research in the fields of agriculture and food sciences.