Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Agricultural Technology and Food Systems (JATAFS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Originality is a fundamental requirement for all manuscripts submitted to the journal.

JATAFS has a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, data falsification, fabrication, duplicate publication, and other forms of academic misconduct. All submitted manuscripts are evaluated for originality before entering the peer review process.

This policy is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.

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1. Purpose

The objectives of this policy are to:

  • Promote originality in scholarly research.

  • Protect intellectual property rights.

  • Maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

  • Ensure ethical publication practices.

  • Prevent academic misconduct.

  • Promote transparency throughout the editorial process.

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2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's ideas, words, data, images, figures, tables, or other intellectual work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment.

Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally and is considered a serious breach of publication ethics.

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3. Types of Plagiarism

JATAFS recognizes several forms of plagiarism, including but not limited to:

Direct Plagiarism

Copying text word-for-word from another source without quotation marks, proper citation, or permission where required.

Mosaic Plagiarism

Mixing copied phrases, sentences, or ideas from one or more sources with minor modifications while failing to provide appropriate attribution.

Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Rewriting another author's work using different words or sentence structures without acknowledging the original source.

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without proper citation or disclosure.

Duplicate Publication

Submitting or publishing substantially the same research in more than one journal without appropriate disclosure or editorial approval.

Data and Image Plagiarism

Using another person's:

  • Research data

  • Figures

  • Tables

  • Images

  • Graphs

  • Illustrations

  • Clinical photographs

without permission, attribution, or appropriate acknowledgment.

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4. Originality Requirement

Authors submitting manuscripts to JATAFS must ensure that:

  • The manuscript is entirely original.

  • All sources are appropriately cited.

  • Quotations are properly identified.

  • Previously published material is clearly acknowledged.

  • Necessary permissions have been obtained for copyrighted material.

  • The manuscript is not under consideration by another journal.

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality of all submitted content.

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5. Similarity Screening

All manuscripts submitted to JATAFS undergo similarity screening using recognized plagiarism-detection software before peer review.

The similarity assessment is intended to identify potential overlap with previously published literature.

Editorial evaluation considers:

  • Overall similarity percentage.

  • Nature of the overlapping text.

  • Context of the similarities.

  • Proper citation and attribution.

  • Acceptable overlap in standard scientific terminology, references, and methodological descriptions.

Editorial decisions are based on a qualitative assessment rather than similarity scores alone.

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6. Acceptable Text Similarity

Limited text similarity may be considered acceptable in certain circumstances, including:

  • Standard methodological descriptions.

  • Properly quoted material.

  • References and bibliographic information.

  • Standard scientific terminology.

  • Ethical approval statements.

  • Funding acknowledgements.

Editors evaluate each case individually to determine whether the overlap is acceptable.

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7. Unacceptable Practices

The following practices are considered unacceptable:

  • Copying text without attribution.

  • Using another author's ideas without citation.

  • Duplicate publication.

  • Undisclosed self-plagiarism.

  • Image plagiarism.

  • Figure manipulation.

  • Data plagiarism.

  • Citation manipulation.

  • Translation plagiarism without attribution.

  • Purchasing or submitting manuscripts written by third parties without proper disclosure.

Such practices may constitute research misconduct.

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8. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring originality.

  • Accurately citing all sources.

  • Obtaining permissions where required.

  • Disclosing previous publication of related work.

  • Responding promptly to editorial queries regarding originality.

  • Cooperating fully during any investigation of suspected plagiarism.

Authors should carefully review their manuscripts before submission to minimize the risk of unintentional plagiarism.

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9. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers who identify possible plagiarism, duplicate publication, or inappropriate overlap should notify the handling editor promptly.

Reviewers should provide supporting evidence whenever possible.

Suspected plagiarism should remain confidential and should not be discussed outside the editorial process.

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10. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Evaluating similarity reports.

  • Assessing suspected plagiarism objectively.

  • Requesting clarification from authors where necessary.

  • Conducting investigations in accordance with journal policies.

  • Taking appropriate editorial action based on the evidence.

Editors will consider the extent, nature, and intent of the overlap before making an editorial decision.

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11. Investigation of Suspected Plagiarism

When plagiarism or substantial text overlap is suspected, the Editorial Office will conduct a fair and confidential investigation.

The investigation may include:

  • Reviewing the similarity report.

  • Examining the original source(s).

  • Requesting an explanation from the corresponding author.

  • Consulting reviewers or independent experts, where appropriate.

  • Following the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before any editorial decision is made.

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12. Editorial Actions

Depending on the nature and severity of the plagiarism, JATAFS may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Request revision and proper citation.

  • Request removal or correction of copied material.

  • Reject the manuscript.

  • Suspend editorial processing.

  • Publish a correction after publication.

  • Issue an Expression of Concern.

  • Retract the published article.

  • Notify the authors' institution, employer, or funding agency where appropriate.

Editorial actions are determined on a case-by-case basis after careful evaluation of the available evidence.

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13. Self-Plagiarism

Authors must avoid substantial reuse of their own previously published material without appropriate citation or disclosure.

Acceptable reuse may include:

  • Properly cited methodological descriptions.

  • Conference abstracts expanded into full articles with appropriate disclosure.

  • Preprints, where permitted by the journal's Preprint Policy.

Authors should clearly identify any overlap with their previously published work.

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14. Duplicate and Redundant Publication

JATAFS does not consider manuscripts that have been published elsewhere or are simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

Authors must disclose any related manuscripts, conference papers, or previous publications that substantially overlap with the submitted work.

Failure to disclose redundant publication may result in rejection or retraction.

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15. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Originality

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality of all manuscript content, regardless of whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools were used during manuscript preparation.

AI-generated text, images, code, or other content must be:

  • Carefully reviewed by the authors.

  • Scientifically accurate.

  • Properly disclosed where required.

  • Free from plagiarism or copyright infringement.

The use of AI tools does not exempt authors from their ethical responsibilities.

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16. Post-Publication Plagiarism

If plagiarism is identified after publication, the Editorial Office will investigate the matter in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

Depending on the outcome, the journal may:

  • Publish a correction.

  • Update the published article.

  • Publish an Expression of Concern.

  • Retract the article.

  • Notify relevant institutions where appropriate.

All post-publication actions will remain permanently linked to the original article to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

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17. Appeals

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision relating to plagiarism may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief.

Appeals should include:

  • A detailed explanation.

  • Supporting evidence.

  • Relevant documentation.

Each appeal will be reviewed independently, and the final decision will be communicated to the corresponding author.

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18. Policy Review

JATAFS periodically reviews this Plagiarism Policy to ensure continued alignment with evolving international standards and best practices.

Updates may reflect recommendations issued by:

  • 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 always be available on the journal website.

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19. Contact Information

Questions regarding plagiarism, originality, or publication ethics may be directed to:

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

Email: editor@novadexpub.com

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20. Commitment to Academic Integrity

The Journal of Agricultural Technology and Food Systems (JATAFS) is committed to safeguarding the integrity, originality, and credibility of scholarly publishing.

By implementing rigorous plagiarism screening, fair editorial evaluation, and internationally recognized ethical standards, JATAFS strives to ensure that all published research reflects the highest levels of academic honesty and scientific excellence.

The journal encourages authors, reviewers, editors, and readers to work collaboratively in promoting ethical research practices and preserving the integrity of the global scientific record.