Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy for Frontiers in Agriculture

Frontiers in Agriculture is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct in research publishing. Plagiarism is a serious breach of academic ethics and will not be tolerated. The following Plagiarism Policy outlines the steps the journal takes to prevent, detect, and address plagiarism in submitted manuscripts.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work, ideas, or words without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Copying: Copying text, data, or figures verbatim from other sources without citation.
  • Paraphrasing Without Citation: Rewriting someone else’s ideas or concepts without proper acknowledgment of the original source.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing significant portions of previously published work, without proper reference or authorization, in a new submission.
  • Misleading Citations: Citing sources inaccurately or citing sources that do not exist.

2. Prevention of Plagiarism

To prevent plagiarism and ensure the originality of research, Frontiers in Agriculture requires authors to adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Originality of Work: Authors must submit original work that has not been published elsewhere or is not under consideration for publication by another journal.
  • Proper Citation: All sources, including direct quotes, paraphrased ideas, figures, and data, must be appropriately cited according to the journal’s citation style.
  • Reference Management Tools: Authors are encouraged to use reference management tools (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) to ensure proper citation and avoid unintentional plagiarism.

3. Detection of Plagiarism

Frontiers in Agriculture uses advanced plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) to screen all submitted manuscripts for similarities with previously published material. Submissions that show substantial similarity to existing sources may be flagged for further investigation.

  • Screening Process: Manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism during the initial submission and/or peer review stages. If plagiarism is suspected, the editorial team may request further clarification or evidence from the authors.
  • Threshold for Plagiarism: The journal’s editorial team will review any flagged content for potential plagiarism. A similarity index higher than 20% will prompt an in-depth evaluation. Content with over 40% similarity may result in rejection, depending on the extent of the plagiarism.

4. Consequences of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage of the submission or publication process, the following actions may be taken:

  • Rejection of Submission: If plagiarism is detected during the submission process, the manuscript will be rejected immediately. Authors may be asked to resubmit a revised version, ensuring full compliance with academic integrity standards.

  • Retracted Publication: If plagiarism is discovered after the article has been accepted or published, the article will be retracted, and a notice of retraction will be published, indicating the reason for the retraction. The authors may be banned from submitting future manuscripts to the journal.

  • Notification to Institutions or Funding Bodies: In cases of significant plagiarism, the journal may notify the author’s institution, funding body, or any relevant ethical oversight committees. The goal is to address the issue at a broader academic level.

  • Record Keeping: Instances of plagiarism will be documented, and repeated offenses may result in a permanent ban from submitting to Frontiers in Agriculture.

5. Responsibility of Authors

  • Self-Check: Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work is free from plagiarism before submission. They should self-check their manuscripts using plagiarism detection tools and ensure proper citation of all references.
  • Declaration of Originality: Authors must sign a declaration at the time of submission, confirming that the manuscript is their original work and does not contain plagiarized content.

6. Collaboration with Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers are expected to treat submitted manuscripts as confidential and to report any concerns about potential plagiarism to the editorial team. Reviewers must not use or disclose any content from manuscripts under review.

7. Updates to the Policy

Frontiers in Agriculture reserves the right to update or modify this Plagiarism Policy as needed to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Authors and reviewers will be notified of any significant changes to the policy.