Organic Agriculture - Paper types

All paper types must be submitted online using the Springer submission platform (this opens in a new tab). Weak and poorly presented manuscripts will be rejected without review. The Editor-in-Chief will allocate submitted papers to an editor, who will oversee the refereeing process, before making a recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief.
 It is the responsibility of the authors to check that the paper fits within the Aim and Scope of this journal, has used international agreed nomenclature, does use Euro or US-Dollar as currency for economic values, and is written in a proper orthography and English language. Therefore, authors are advised to have their papers subjected to an internal review process before submission and also have the paper checked by a fluent English speaker.
International scientific and ethical standards - as described by Springer publisher - are obligatory and in responsibility of the authors.
Organic Agriculture supports brevity in the communication of scientific results. Shorter, concise papers are usually more effective and get more cited. Therefore, a page limit has been set for each type of papers.

Research paper:
Research papers should report a new and original study that is directly relevant to organic farming and food systems. The study may be focused on one aspect or take an inter- or trans-disciplinary approach. For full details of the range of topics suitable see the Aims and Scope. While the broad scope of the journal makes prescriptions about presentation difficult, it is likely that a research paper will include the following sections (see Instructions to Authors for full details on presentation):

Abstract: 150-250 words.
Introduction: Setting the context of the work and giving the reader access to a summary of the most relevant recent literature on the topic; concluding with a clearly stated aim for the work).
Methods: Including criteria for case study selection, if relevant. The research methodology must fulfill international scientific and ethical standards for experiments and surveys.
Results: Clearly summarized with appropriate statistical analysis; additional materials may be provided as appendices in the on-line version.
Discussion: Critical appraisal of the results in the light of the study aim and previous published findings /hypotheses. To stimulate a science-based knowledge transfer and discussion, this chapter shall not only explain the results but also their relevance for a better understanding and/or development for organic food and farming system and contextualize the results within existing scientific literature on the topic.
Conclusions: These should not simply be a summary of the previous results and discussion section but should integrate key points or draw out recommendations, including the relevance for a better understanding of the organic food and farming system.
Acknowledgments: All funders whether in cash or kind should be clearly acknowledged.
References: citation software like Endnote® or Mendeley® is recommended, using the Springer publisher standard for citation.

Research papers should not exceed 35,000 characters (space excluded), not including Abstract and References. A similarity check (already published content), delivered by Springer as “iThenticate result”, shall not exceed 15% (excluding cited parts of the paper, clearly indicated by standards for citations).
 

Review paper:
Authors, who are considering compiling a scientific review paper, should contact the Editor-in-Chief in the first instance with a brief outline of the topic to be covered and the scope of the review including main subsections (about 1,000 words). This is to avoid unnecessary work for authors where a number of reviews on the same topic are submitted almost simultaneously. Reviews which take a broad inter-, intra- or trans- disciplinary perspective towards an issue of concern to researchers and practitioners in organic farming and food systems are particularly welcomed. Once submitted after the initial invitation by the Editor-in-Chief, a review paper is not guaranteed acceptance and will follow the normal editorial review processes. It is likely that a review will include the following sections (see Instructions to Authors for full details on presentation):
Abstract: 150-250 words
Introduction: Setting the broad context of the work and concluding with a clearly stated aim. The reason for the review must be clear and convincing.
Methods: The scope and approach to the compilation of the information forming the basis of the review together with any criteria used for inclusion/exclusion of studies should be reported clearly.
Main body: In appropriate sub-sections.
Conclusions: These should not simply be a summary of the previous results and discussion section but should integrate key points or draw out recommendations.
Acknowledgments: All funders whether in cash or kind should be clearly acknowledged.
References
Review papers should not exceed 40,000 characters (space excluded), not including Abstract and References. A similarity check (already published content), delivered by Springer as “iThenticate result”, shall not exceed 20% (excluding cited parts of the paper, clearly indicated by standards for citations).

Concept notes:
ISOFAR is interested in science-based concept notes discussing further developments of organic farming and food systems, and the contribution of research to approach these developments. Authors, who are considering compiling a concept note should contact the Editor-in-Chief in the first instance with a brief outline of the topic to be covered and the scope of the discussion including main subsections (about 1,000 words). This is to avoid unnecessary work for authors where a number of concept notes on the same topic are submitted almost simultaneously. Science-based concept notes which take a broad inter- , intra- or trans- disciplinary perspective towards an issue of concern to researchers and practitioners in organic farming and food systems are particularly welcomed. Once submitted after the initial invitation by the Editor-in-Chief, a concept note is not guaranteed acceptance and will follow the normal editorial review processes. It is likely that a concept note will include the following sections (see Instructions to Authors for full details on presentation):
Abstract: 150-250 words
Introduction: Setting the broad context of the new proposed concept and the reasons why it should be considered a positive innovation with respect to the current state-of-the-art.
Main body: In appropriate sub-sections. The concept should be illustrated I sufficient detail, and specifically placed in the context of the state-of-the-arte literature on the topic.
Conclusions: The conclusion should summarize the main innovative elements of the concept note, while indicating the key elements of interest for organic food and farming systems, as well as the known limitations or caveats of the innovation or concept proposed.
Acknowledgments: All funders whether in cash or kind should be clearly acknowledged.
References
Concept notes should not exceed 15,000 characters (space excluded), not including Abstract and References. A similarity check (already published content), delivered by Springer as “iThenticate result”, shall not exceed 25% (excluding cited parts of the paper, clearly indicated by standards for citations).

http://www.springer.com/journal/13165 (this opens in a new tab)