For Authors

 JICDS provides the following instructions for manuscript preparation and submission. Authors must ensure submissions are original, scientifically rigorous, and aligned with the journal’s scope in food systems science, sustainability, and food security. Manuscripts not meeting these requirements may be returned prior to peer review.

Article Types and Length

The journal publishes the following article types:

• Original Research Articles: up to 5,000 words

• Review Articles: up to 7,000 words

• Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses: up to 8,000 words

• Short Communications: up to 2,500 words

• Technical Notes / Methods Papers: up to 4,000 words

• Case Studies: up to 4,000 words

• Perspectives: up to 3,000 words

• Comments: up to 1,500 words

• Editorials (invited): up to 1,500 words

Word limits include text, references, tables, figures, and acknowledgments.

Manuscript Structure

Original Research Articles

Must be structured as follows:

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Results

• Discussion

• Conclusion

• Acknowledgments (optional)

• Funding Statement

• Conflict of Interest

• Data Availability Statement

• References

• Tables and Figures

Each section must be clearly separated. Results must present data only, while Discussion must interpret findings.

Review Articles

Must include:

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Thematic Sections (structured by topic)

• Discussion / Synthesis

• Conclusions and Future Directions

Reviews must provide critical analysis, identify research gaps, and propose future directions.

Short Communications

Should be concise reports of:

• New findings

• Preliminary results

• Novel biogeographical or climatic observations

Structure:

• Abstract

• Main Text (no mandatory subheadings)

• Conclusion

Technical Notes

Must describe new methods, tools, or analytical approaches.

Structure:

• Abstract

• Introduction (brief)

• Methodology / Protocol

• Applications

• Conclusion

Case Studies

Must present real-world applications of ecological or climate-related interventions, emphasizing system responses, outcomes, and practical lessons.

Structure:

• Abstract

• Background

• Case Description

• Outcomes

• Discussion

• Conclusion

Perspectives and Commentaries

Must present scholarly opinion or emerging concepts.

Structure:

• Abstract (optional)

• Main Text

• Conclusion

Abstract and Keywords

• Maximum abstract length: 200 words

• Must include: background, objective, methods, results, and conclusion

• No citations allowed in abstract

• Provide at least 5 keywords

Manuscript Formatting

• File format: MS Word (.doc or .docx)

• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt

• Line spacing: Double

• Margins: 2.5 cm

• Continuous line numbering required

• Left-aligned text

• Maximum three heading levels

• Scientific names must be italicized.

Figures and Tables

• Figures must be submitted in high resolution (JPG, TIFF, PDF, or vector formats)

• Tables must be editable (Word format)

• Figures and tables must be numbered sequentially

• Titles must be self-explanatory

• Avoid duplication of data between text and tables

References (APA Style)

The journal uses the APA referencing style.

• In-text citation: (Author, Year)

• Reference list must be alphabetical

• Only cited references should be included

Examples:

• Journal Article

• Book

• Report

Language

Manuscripts must be written in clear English (British or American, consistently).

Authors whose first language is not English are strongly advised to use professional language editing.

Ethical Compliance (Author Responsibility)

Authors must ensure:

• Ethical approval for human or animal studies, where applicable

• Proper consent for human-related research

• Compliance with institutional and national guidelines

• Originality and absence of misconduct

Data Availability

A Data Availability Statement is required for all research articles.

• Data should be deposited in public repositories where possible

• DOI or access link must be provided

• If data cannot be shared, justification must be stated

Submission Requirements

Submission implies that:

• The manuscript is original

• It is not under review elsewhere

• All authors approve submission

• All ethical and funding disclosures are included

Manuscripts must be submitted in:

• Word file

• Matching PDF file

Proofs and Publication

After acceptance:

• Manuscripts are copyedited and typeset

• Authors receive proofs for correction

• Final articles are published online as Early View with DOI

• Articles become fully citable upon publication

Pre-Submission Inquiries

Authors may contact the editorial office before submission to confirm the suitability of manuscripts within the journal's scope.

JICDS is an open access journal. All accepted articles are published immediately and made freely available worldwide. An Article Processing Charge (APC) supports editorial and production services, ensuring open access publishing.

APC Amount

The standard Article Processing Charge is: USD 1,000 per accepted article

This fee applies to all article types, including:

• Research Articles

• Review Articles

• Short Communications

• Technical Notes

• Case Studies

• Perspectives and Commentaries

• Data Papers

No additional charges apply for figures, supplementary materials, or page length within journal limits.

• Invoices are issued automatically after acceptance through the submission system.

• Payments are processed via secure institutional channels.

• Taxes (if applicable) are determined by the author's jurisdiction.

What the APC Covers

The APC supports:

• Editorial and peer review management

• Manuscript processing and coordination

• Copyediting and typesetting

• DOI registration

• Online publication and hosting

• Archiving and preservation services

• Open access distribution

Waiver Policy

Waivers or discounts may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Eligible applicants include:

• Authors from low-income and lower-middle-income countries

• Students with first authorship

• Researchers without institutional funding

• Exceptional cases approved by the Editor-in-Chief

Types of waivers:

• Partial Waiver (up to 50%): limited annually and granted based on financial need, institutional assessment, and eligibility criteria, particularly for authors from low- and middle-income countries.

• Editorial Waiver: reserved for invited manuscripts, special issues, or strategically important contributions at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

• Quota Control (internal policy): waivers are limited to a fixed percentage of annual accepted articles per journal.

Please submit waiver requests at the time of manuscript submission with justification.

Payment Terms

• APC is payable only after manuscript acceptance

• No submission or review fees are charged

• An invoice is issued after acceptance

• Payment is required within 7–14 days

Failure to complete payment may delay publication.

Refund Policy

Refunds are limited and subject to conditions.

Eligible cases:

• Duplicate payments

• Publisher administrative errors

• Withdrawal before production begins

Non-refundable cases:

• Rejection after peer review

• Withdrawal after acceptance

• Author errors in submission

Refund requests must be submitted within 7 days of payment. Processing time is 14–21 business days. Transaction fees may be deducted.

Currency and Payment Methods

All APC payments are made in: United States Dollars (USD)

Alternative currencies may be accepted upon request and converted at current exchange rates.

Accepted payment methods include:

• Bank transfer (SWIFT)

• Institutional payment

• Approved online payment systems

Open Access Policy

All articles are published under an open access model and are freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).