Conflict of Interest Policy

The Journal of Soil Future Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, objectivity, and integrity in academic publishing. To uphold these principles, all individuals involved in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, and editors—are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the content, interpretation, or outcome of the submitted manuscript.

For Authors:

Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing their research. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Financial interests: Such as research funding, grants, employment, consultancy fees, stock ownership, royalties, or patents relevant to the research topic, especially involving soil technologies, agribusiness, or land-use practices.
2. Personal relationships: That may affect the objectivity of the research or the interpretation of results.
3. Professional affiliations: Including roles in organizations (e.g., environmental agencies, NGOs, governmental bodies, or soil-related companies) that may have a stake in the research findings.

All potential conflicts must be disclosed at the time of manuscript submission. A statement addressing these conflicts must also be included in the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors should clearly state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

For Reviewers:

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts that could affect their ability to provide an unbiased review. This includes:

1. Financial or personal connections to the authors.
2. Competitive or collaborative relationships.
3. Affiliations with institutions, organizations, or companies linked to the subject matter of the manuscript.

If a reviewer feels their impartiality may be compromised, they must decline the review and promptly notify the editorial office.

For Editors:

Editors handling manuscripts are required to declare any conflicts of interest, whether financial, academic, or personal. If an editor has a close relationship with the author(s), or any interest in the subject matter (e.g., involvement in specific soil research projects or commercial ventures), they must recuse themselves from the editorial decision. The manuscript will be reassigned to a neutral editor to ensure a fair and unbiased review process.

Managing Conflicts of Interest:

When a conflict of interest is identified, the Journal of Soil Future Research will take appropriate steps to manage it, including:

1. Transparency: Clearly stating the nature of the conflict in the published article.
2. Editorial reassignment: Reallocating the manuscript to another editor or reviewer if necessary.
3. Ethical oversight: The editorial board will evaluate any disclosed or suspected conflicts to ensure they are managed in accordance with the journal’s ethical standards.

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may lead to manuscript rejection, retraction, or other corrective actions.

By fostering a culture of transparency and ethical responsibility, the Journal of Soil Future Research remains dedicated to publishing high-quality, unbiased research that contributes to the advancement of soil science and sustainable land management.