Publication Ethics

VRU Agricultural and Food Journal is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics. The journal has established a code of conduct and best practices for all individuals involved in the publication process, including Editors, Authors, and Reviewers. The details are as follows.

Responsibilities of Editors

1. Editors must ensure that the journal's operations align with its stated objectives and adhere strictly to its established procedures and processes.
2. Editors are responsible for reviewing and vetting all submitted manuscripts. This includes assessing the content's relevance to the journal's aims and scope, as well as overseeing the quality assurance process before publication.
3. Manuscript evaluation must be based solely on academic merit. Editors must remain impartial and free from bias based on the authors' race, gender, religion, culture, political affiliation, or institutional association.
4. Editors must screen manuscripts for plagiarism and redundancy. If such issues are detected during the review process, the editor must immediately halt the evaluation and contact the corresponding author for clarification before making a final decision to accept or reject the manuscript.
5. Editors must have no conflicts of interest with authors or reviewers. They must not use manuscripts or the journal for personal or commercial gain, or for their own academic credit.
6. Editors must not alter or change the content of manuscripts or the reviewers' evaluations. They must also not obstruct or interfere with the communication between reviewers and authors.
7. Editors are responsible for maintaining the journal's standards and consistently improving its quality and relevance to meet international standards.

Responsibilities of Authors

1. Submitted work must be original and not previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere.
2. The content of the manuscript must fall within the scope of the VRU Agricultural and Food Journal.
3. Authors must not plagiarize the work of others. All sources, whether cited directly or referenced, must be properly acknowledged within the manuscript.
4. All individuals listed as authors must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the work.
5. Authors must adhere to the journal's formatting guidelines, including the specified font size and style. They are also responsible for verifying the accuracy and formatting of all references.
6. Upon acceptance, authors must transfer the copyright to VRU Agricultural and Food Journal and must not submit the work for publication elsewhere.
7. For research involving human or animal subjects that may affect their dignity, rights, safety, or well-being, authors must ensure the study adheres to all relevant ethical principles, laws, and regulations. They must obtain and provide proof of informed consent and documentation from the appropriate ethics committee (e.g., Human or Animal Research Ethics Committee).
8. Authors must disclose all sources of funding for their research.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Reviewers must prioritize the quality of the manuscript. Their evaluations must be based on objective academic reasoning, free from personal bias or conflict of interest with the authors.
2. Reviewers must not use the submitted work for personal or professional gain.
3. Reviewers must confirm they possess the necessary expertise and knowledge to evaluate the manuscript accurately.
4. If a reviewer discovers evidence of plagiarism in a submitted manuscript, they must immediately inform the editor.
5. Reviewers must adhere to the designated timeframe for the review process and must not disclose any information about the manuscript to unauthorized individuals.