Plagiarism Policy
At the International Journal of Agriculture and Food Fermentation, we are committed to upholding the integrity and originality of scholarly research. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This policy outlines our approach to preventing, detecting, and handling plagiarism at all stages of the submission and publication process for research related to agriculture and food fermentation.

Definition of Plagiarism:
Plagiarism occurs when an author uses another’s work without appropriate acknowledgment or presents someone else's ideas, data, or text as their own. This includes:

1. Copying text, figures, tables, or images (e.g., diagrams of fermentation setups, microbial growth curves, or food product analyses) without proper citation.
2. Using portions of another's work without permission or reference.
3. Self-plagiarism, which involves reusing significant portions of one's previous publications without citing the original source.

Plagiarism Detection:

All submitted manuscripts undergo a thorough plagiarism check before the peer review process begins. We utilize advanced plagiarism detection tools to ensure that the content is original. Manuscripts are evaluated based on the percentage of overlap with other published works, including those in fermentation science, food technology, and agricultural research.

Handling Plagiarism:
Depending on the extent of plagiarism detected, the International Journal of Agriculture and Food Fermentation follows specific actions:

• Less than 5% Plagiarism: The manuscript will be assigned an ID and sent to the author for minor content revisions.
• 5% to 15% Plagiarism: The manuscript will not be assigned an ID. The author will be informed and asked to revise the content accordingly.
• More than 15% Plagiarism: The manuscript will be returned to the author without review. Significant revisions are required, and the author must resubmit the manuscript as a new submission after making the necessary changes.

Rejection Due to High Plagiarism (>30%):

If more than 30% of a manuscript is found to be plagiarized, it will be immediately rejected. Authors with significant plagiarism issues are unlikely to meet the journal's revision standards, but they may resubmit the manuscript as a completely new submission after making substantial corrections.

Post-Publication Plagiarism:
If plagiarism is identified after a paper has been published, the International Journal of Agriculture and Food Fermentation will investigate the issue thoroughly. Based on the findings, the journal will:

• Notify the author’s institution and funding agencies.
• Mark the plagiarized paper on each page of the PDF.
• Issue a retraction notice, depending on the severity of the plagiarism.

Author Responsibility:
By submitting a manuscript to the International Journal of Agriculture and Food Fermentation, authors confirm that their work is original and has not been published elsewhere. Authors are expected to understand the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and properly citing sources. This includes ensuring proper citation for any microbial data, fermentation protocols, or food analysis methods derived from existing literature. Failure to do so may result in accusations of plagiarism, either accidental or intentional, which will be treated with equal severity.

Self-Plagiarism:
Self-plagiarism, or recycling portions of previously published work without proper citation, is also a serious violation. Authors must cite their own prior work if it is used in a new submission. Reuse of material without proper attribution will be treated as plagiarism.

Ethical Commitment to Originality:
The International Journal of Agriculture and Food Fermentation ensures that all manuscripts undergo a robust originality check. Authors must adhere to the highest ethical standards by submitting only their original work and citing all sources accurately. The journal reserves the right to request documentation of proper citation or clarification in case of any ambiguity regarding plagiarism.