Data Sharing and Data Availability Policy

The Journal of Agricultural Technology and Food Systems (JATAFS) supports transparency, reproducibility, and the responsible sharing of research data. Making research data available, where appropriate, strengthens scientific integrity, facilitates independent verification of findings, and promotes collaboration within the scientific community.

This policy outlines the journal's expectations regarding the availability, management, and sharing of data associated with manuscripts submitted to JATAFS.

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1. Purpose

The objectives of this policy are to:

  • Promote transparency in research.

  • Improve the reproducibility of scientific findings.

  • Encourage responsible data sharing.

  • Facilitate verification of published results.

  • Support compliance with funding agency and institutional requirements.

  • Advance open science and responsible research practices.

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2. Scope

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to JATAFS, including:

  • Original Research Articles

  • Review Articles (where applicable)

  • Short Communications

  • Case Reports

  • Clinical Studies

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Studies

  • Biomedical and Healthcare Research

The level of data sharing may vary depending on the study design, ethical considerations, legal requirements, and participant confidentiality.

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3. Data Availability Statement

Authors are encouraged to include a Data Availability Statement in every manuscript.

The statement should clearly indicate:

  • Whether the data are publicly available.

  • Where the data can be accessed.

  • Any restrictions on data availability.

  • Conditions under which data may be obtained.

Examples include:

  • "The datasets generated during this study are available in a publicly accessible repository."

  • "The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request."

  • "The data are not publicly available due to ethical, legal, or privacy restrictions."

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4. Types of Research Data

Research data may include, but are not limited to:

  • Raw datasets.

  • Processed datasets.

  • Clinical data.

  • Survey responses.

  • Laboratory measurements.

  • Medical images.

  • Artificial intelligence training datasets.

  • Machine learning models.

  • Source code.

  • Statistical analysis files.

  • Supplementary materials.

Authors should ensure that shared data are accurate, complete, and sufficiently documented.

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5. Public Data Repositories

Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to deposit research data in recognized public repositories before or at the time of publication.

Examples include:

  • Institutional repositories.

  • Discipline-specific repositories.

  • General-purpose research data repositories.

  • Government-supported repositories.

Authors should provide persistent identifiers (such as DOIs or accession numbers) whenever available.

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6. Data Citation

Datasets that are publicly available should be cited in the manuscript in the same manner as other scholarly resources.

Data citations should include, where applicable:

  • Author(s).

  • Dataset title.

  • Repository name.

  • Year of publication.

  • Version (if applicable).

  • DOI or persistent identifier.

Proper citation ensures that data creators receive appropriate credit for their work.

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7. Confidentiality and Privacy

Research data containing personally identifiable information must be handled responsibly.

Authors should ensure that:

  • Participant privacy is protected.

  • Personal identifiers are removed or anonymized where appropriate.

  • Data sharing complies with applicable laws and regulations.

  • Ethical approvals and informed consent requirements are respected.

The journal will not require the public release of confidential or legally protected information.

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8. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring the accuracy of shared data.

  • Retaining original research data.

  • Providing data when requested during editorial review.

  • Complying with ethical and legal requirements.

  • Including an appropriate Data Availability Statement.

  • Obtaining necessary permissions before sharing data.

Authors remain fully responsible for the integrity of all research data associated with their publication.

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9. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers who receive access to research data during peer review must:

  • Treat all data as confidential.

  • Use the data solely for the purpose of manuscript evaluation.

  • Not copy, distribute, or reuse unpublished data.

  • Notify the editors if concerns regarding data integrity arise.

Reviewer confidentiality obligations continue after completion of the review.

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10. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors may request additional data or supporting documentation when necessary to evaluate a manuscript.

Editors are responsible for:

  • Promoting transparency.

  • Assessing data availability statements.

  • Protecting confidential information.

  • Ensuring compliance with ethical standards.

  • Addressing concerns regarding data integrity.

Editorial requests for additional data will be made only when justified and handled confidentially.

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11. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Research Data

For studies involving Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), or related computational methods, authors are encouraged to provide sufficient information to enable readers to understand and evaluate the research.

Where appropriate, authors should make available:

  • Training datasets.

  • Validation datasets.

  • Test datasets.

  • Source code.

  • Algorithms.

  • Model architecture.

  • Performance metrics.

  • Model parameters.

  • Documentation describing the development and validation process.

If datasets or source code cannot be shared due to legal, ethical, licensing, or commercial restrictions, authors should clearly explain these limitations in the manuscript.

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12. Data Integrity

Authors must ensure that all research data are:

  • Accurate.

  • Complete.

  • Authentic.

  • Reliable.

  • Properly documented.

  • Consistent with the reported findings.

Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or manipulation of research data constitutes research misconduct and will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

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13. Data Retention

Authors are encouraged to retain the original research data supporting their published work for a reasonable period following publication, in accordance with institutional, legal, funding agency, and disciplinary requirements.

Authors may be requested to provide supporting data during editorial review or, where appropriate, after publication to verify reported findings.

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14. Restrictions on Data Sharing

JATAFS recognizes that unrestricted data sharing may not always be appropriate.

Restrictions may apply where data involve:

  • Patient privacy.

  • Personally identifiable information.

  • Confidential clinical records.

  • National security considerations.

  • Intellectual property rights.

  • Commercial confidentiality.

  • Legal or regulatory requirements.

Where restrictions exist, authors should clearly explain the reasons within the Data Availability Statement and indicate whether data may be shared under controlled access or upon reasonable request.

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15. Requests for Research Data

Following publication, readers may request access to supporting research data from the corresponding author where permitted by ethical, legal, and institutional requirements.

Authors are encouraged to respond to reasonable requests in a timely manner while protecting participant confidentiality and complying with applicable regulations.

The journal does not routinely act as a repository for research data.

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16. Post-Publication Data Concerns

If concerns regarding the accuracy, integrity, availability, or authenticity of published research data are raised after publication, the Editorial Office will investigate the matter in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

Where appropriate, the journal may:

  • Request clarification from the authors.

  • Obtain additional supporting documentation.

  • Publish a correction.

  • Issue an Expression of Concern.

  • Retract the article in cases of confirmed research misconduct.

All investigations will be conducted fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with internationally recognized ethical standards.

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17. Policy Review

JATAFS periodically reviews this Data Sharing and Data Availability Policy to ensure alignment with evolving international standards, funding agency requirements, and best practices in scholarly publishing.

Updates may reflect recommendations issued by organizations such as:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

  • Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)

The latest version of this policy will be published on the journal website.

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18. Contact Information

Questions regarding research data, data availability, or data sharing requirements may be directed to:

Editorial Office
Journal of Agricultural Technology and Food Systems (JATAFS)
Novadex Publications

Email: editor@novadexpub.com

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19. Commitment to Open and Responsible Research

The Journal of Agricultural Technology and Food Systems (JATAFS) is committed to promoting transparent, reproducible, and ethically conducted research.

By encouraging responsible data sharing, protecting participant privacy, and supporting open science principles, JATAFS seeks to strengthen confidence in published research and facilitate scientific collaboration for the benefit of researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and society.

The journal encourages authors to share research data whenever appropriate while respecting ethical, legal, and confidentiality obligations.