Publication Ethics

Agrivolution is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics following the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices. Ensuring research integrity, transparency, and academic credibility is at the core of our publishing process. All parties involved in the publication of research—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—must adhere to ethical guidelines to maintain the trust, fairness, and scientific rigor of the journal.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must adhere to ethical research and reporting standards to ensure the credibility and originality of their work. By submitting a manuscript to Agrivolution, authors confirm that:

1.1 Originality & Plagiarism

  • All submitted work must be original and free from plagiarism.
  • Manuscripts undergo Turnitin screening, and submissions with a similarity index above 30% will be immediately rejected.
  • Authors must properly cite all sources and acknowledge prior work.
  • Self-plagiarism (text recycling) is prohibited unless proper attribution and justification are provided.

1.2 Authorship & Contributorship

  • Authorship should be limited to individuals who have substantially contributed to the research and manuscript preparation.
  • All authors must meet the ICMJE authorship criteria, which require significant contributions to:
    • Research conception or study design
    • Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
    • Manuscript drafting or critical revision
    • Final approval of the version to be published
  • The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and agreed to the final manuscript before submission.
  • "Guest" or "honorary" authorship is strictly prohibited.

1.3 Data Integrity & Research Ethics

  • Authors must accurately report their research findings and ensure data integrity.
  • Any form of data fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting is strictly prohibited.
  • Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must adhere to ethical guidelines and have institutional ethical approval.
  • Authors must disclose conflicts of interest, funding sources, and affiliations that could influence the research.

1.4 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submissions

  • Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
  • Submitting previously published work without proper justification and citation constitutes duplicate publication and is prohibited.
  • If the manuscript is based on a preprint, authors must disclose this information during submission.

1.5 Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Discussions

  • If an author discovers a significant error after publication, they must immediately notify the editor for correction or retraction.
  • The journal reserves the right to issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern if errors or ethical violations are identified post-publication.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity, quality, and ethical standards of the journal. The Agrivolution editorial team is committed to:

2.1 Fair & Unbiased Editorial Decisions

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on the manuscript’s scientific merit, originality, relevance, and quality.
  • Editors will not discriminate based on race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.
  • Agrivolution follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartiality and transparency.

2.2 Confidentiality & Integrity

  • Editors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
  • Editors must not use unpublished material for their own research or personal advantage.
  • Any potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists.

2.3 Handling of Ethical Violations

  • Editors will investigate allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data manipulation, and unethical research.
  • In cases of ethical violations, the journal follows COPE guidelines to take appropriate action, which may include:
    • Requesting explanations from authors
    • Issuing retractions or corrections
    • Notifying the authors’ institutions
  • Editors will provide authors with a clear appeals process if a manuscript is rejected due to ethical concerns.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are essential to maintaining the quality and credibility of Agrivolution. All reviewers must:

3.1 Objectivity & Constructive Feedback

  • Provide fair, objective, and professional evaluations based on scientific merit.
  • Avoid personal criticism and ensure that feedback is constructive and focused on improving the manuscript.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest and decline reviews where impartiality is compromised.

3.2 Confidentiality & Ethical Conduct

  • Maintain strict confidentiality—manuscripts must not be shared, discussed, or used for personal gain.
  • Refrain from contacting authors directly or disclosing their identities.
  • Report any suspected ethical violations (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation) to the editorial team.

4. Conflict of Interest Policy

To maintain transparency and trust, Agrivolution requires that all parties involved in the publication process disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that may influence their work.

  • Authors must disclose all potential conflicts of interest, including funding sources, institutional affiliations, and personal relationships.
  • Reviewers must recuse themselves if they have any competing interests with the authors, institutions, or funding bodies related to the manuscript.
  • Editors must avoid handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists and delegate the editorial decision to another qualified editor.

5. Handling Research Misconduct

The journal takes research misconduct seriously and adheres to COPE’s guidelines for addressing unethical practices. This includes:

5.1 Investigating Misconduct Allegations

  • Allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, or unethical research will be thoroughly investigated.
  • Agrivolution reserves the right to contact authors’ institutions, funding bodies, and relevant regulatory authorities if misconduct is confirmed.

5.2 Retractions & Corrections

  • If misconduct is proven after publication, the journal may issue:
    • Corrections (for honest errors that do not alter conclusions).
    • Retractions (for serious ethical violations, plagiarism, or fraudulent research).
    • Expressions of Concern (for unresolved ethical disputes requiring further investigation).

6. Ethical Oversight & Compliance

  • Agrivolution follows COPE Core Practices, ICMJE recommendations, and BOAI principles to ensure ethical publishing.
  • Authors must adhere to institutional and national ethical guidelines when conducting research involving human or animal subjects.
  • Editors and reviewers must uphold academic integrity by ensuring that all published work meets international ethical standards.

Final Statement

By submitting to Agrivolution, authors, reviewers, and editors agree to abide by these ethical guidelines. The journal’s commitment to integrity, fairness, and transparency ensures that Agrivolution remains a trusted and reputable platform for groundbreaking research in agrotechnology and innovation.

We encourage the scientific community to collaborate, innovate, and publish responsibly, upholding the principles of ethical research and academic excellence.