Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Explore Crop Science (ECS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and preventing malpractice. This statement outlines the ethical behavior expected from all parties involved in the publication process editors, authors, reviewers, and the publisher (Explore Publisher).

We follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and adhere to the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability in scholarly publishing.

  1. Duties of Editors

1.1 Editorial Decision

Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted manuscripts are published. Decisions are made based on the manuscript’s scholarly merit, originality, relevance, and adherence to journal scope, without regard to race, gender, religious belief, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.

1.2 Confidentiality

Editors must maintain confidentiality about all submissions and must not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and publisher.

1.3 Fair Review

Editors must ensure a fair and unbiased peer-review process. Submitted manuscripts shall be evaluated solely on their academic merit.

1.4 Conflicts of Interest

Editors shall not handle papers in which they have conflicts of interest. Such papers shall be reassigned to another editor.

  1. Duties of Authors

2.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit only original work. Any form of plagiarism, including duplicate publication, data falsification, or image manipulation, is unethical and unacceptable.

2.2 Authorship

All authors listed on a manuscript must have made a significant contribution to the research and approve the final version. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

2.3 Data Access and Retention

Authors may be asked to provide raw data in connection with their manuscript and should be prepared to make data publicly available where possible.

2.4 Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of all sources and influences must be provided. All prior work should be appropriately cited.

2.5 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submission

Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals constitutes unethical publishing behavior.

2.6 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that might influence their work.

  1. Duties of Reviewers

3.1 Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions and may also help authors improve the manuscript through constructive feedback.

3.2 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without permission from the editor.

3.3 Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively, and observations should be clearly supported by arguments. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.

3.4 Acknowledgment of Sources

Reviewers must identify relevant published work not cited by the authors. If reviewers suspect plagiarism or ethical misconduct, they must notify the editor.

3.5 Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, institutions, or companies involved.

  1. Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher, Explore Publisher, takes its role of guardianship over all stages of the publishing process seriously and recognizes its ethical responsibilities. We are committed to:

  • Supporting editorial independence.
  • Ensuring academic freedom.
  • Investigating all cases of alleged misconduct and taking necessary action, including retraction or correction of articles where appropriate.
  1. Handling of Misconduct

Explore Crop Science is committed to investigating all allegations of publication misconduct. In cases of suspected plagiarism, fabrication, authorship disputes, or other unethical behavior, we follow COPE’s flowcharts and procedures to reach resolution, which may include rejection, retraction, or formal correction.

  1. Appeals and Complaints

Authors or reviewers with complaints or appeals may contact the editorial office at [insert journal email]. Appeals will be handled in accordance with the principles of fairness, transparency, and impartiality.