Publication Ethics

The Journal of Food and Agricultural Technology Research (JFATR) strongly upholds the highest standards of publication ethics. Peer-reviewed articles constitute the foundation of a credible and coherent body of scientific knowledge and directly reflect the quality, integrity, and reliability of the work conducted by authors and their affiliated institutions. Scholarly publishing is a core expression of the scientific method, and ethical conduct at every stage is essential.

JFATR is committed to excellence in scholarly publishing and fully adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, including COPE’s Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. Reviewers are encouraged to follow COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, while editors comply with COPE’s guidance on Ethical Editing, Editing Peer Review, and Editorial Board Participation.

All editorial policies and ethical decisions are guided by COPE standards.

Ethical Responsibilities of All Parties

Clear ethical standards apply to authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher throughout the publication process.

Editorial Responsibilities

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief of JFATR is responsible for deciding which manuscripts are accepted for publication. Decisions are based on the journal’s editorial policies, reviewer recommendations, scholarly merit, and legal considerations (e.g., plagiarism, copyright infringement). Editors may consult associate editors or reviewers when necessary.

Fair Play

Manuscripts are evaluated solely on intellectual content, without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.

Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential and disclose information only to corresponding authors, reviewers, editorial advisors, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All editors, reviewers, authors, editorial board members, and the publisher must declare any potential conflicts of interest. Complaints related to conflicts of interest are addressed by the Complaint Redressal & Appellate Committee in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Data Sharing and Reproducibility

JFATR encourages authors to share raw data where feasible, follow recognized reporting guidelines, register clinical trials (where applicable), and adopt best ethical practices in their discipline. The journal supports transparency and reproducibility in line with COPE guidance.

Ethical Oversight

JFATR ensures ethical oversight for research involving human participants, animals, vulnerable populations, confidential data, and consent to publication. All submitted research must comply with internationally accepted ethical standards and COPE recommendations.

Intellectual Property and Plagiarism

JFATR maintains clear policies on copyright, licensing, and intellectual property. Preprints are accepted following proper peer review. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and manuscripts must meet acceptable similarity thresholds. Suspected misconduct is handled according to COPE procedures.

Post-Publication Discussion, Corrections, and Retractions

The journal welcomes post-publication dialogue and scholarly discussion. Corrections, revisions, or retractions are issued when justified, following COPE guidance to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists editors in decision-making and helps authors improve their manuscripts.

  • Promptness: Reviewers unable to complete reviews in a timely manner should notify the editor.

  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts under review must not be shared or discussed without authorization.

  • Objectivity: Reviews should be fair, constructive, and evidence-based; personal criticism is unacceptable.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify uncited relevant literature and report potential overlap or plagiarism.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must decline reviews where conflicts of interest exist.

Author Responsibilities

Corresponding Author’s Role

The corresponding author acts on behalf of all co-authors during submission, review, and publication. They ensure authorship accuracy, approval of the final manuscript, and correctness of proofs.

Confidentiality

Authors must treat all communications with the journal as confidential and refrain from sharing reviewer reports or editorial correspondence without permission.

Reporting Standards

Authors must present accurate, reproducible research with sufficient methodological detail. Fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation constitutes unethical conduct.

Data Access and Retention

Authors should be prepared to provide raw data for review and retain data for a reasonable period after publication.

Originality and Multiple Submissions

Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. Duplicate or redundant publication is prohibited.

Authorship and Acknowledgment

Authorship should reflect substantial contributions. All contributors must be appropriately credited, and all authors must approve the final manuscript.

Human and Animal Research Ethics

Studies involving humans or animals must clearly state ethical approval and compliance with relevant regulations.

Disclosure of Conflicts and Funding

All financial and non-financial conflicts of interest and funding sources must be disclosed.

Errors in Published Work

Authors must promptly notify the journal of any significant errors and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

Complaints and Appeals

JFATR has a transparent process for handling complaints and appeals. All cases are reviewed by the Complaint Redressal & Appellate Committee in accordance with COPE guidelines, with a target resolution timeframe of four weeks.

Composition of the Committee

  • Editor-in-Chief

  • Managing Editor

  • Two Editorial Advisory Board members (JFATR)

  • One Editorial Advisory Board member from another journal