Journal Sections

The Editors welcome submissions that explore how ecological principles and processes can be applied to improve agricultural production and food systems. The section covers both innovative systems and improvements to existing approaches to building and managing agricultural ecosystems. Focal areas include, but are not limited to, organic farming, agroforestry, integrated, conventional and regenerative agriculture.

Editors of this section welcome all manuscripts on fundamental or applied research related to studies of any animal species under human management, including wildlife. Editors have strong interest in studies related to genetics, physiology, immunology, nutrition, disease, molecular, and cellular science, and welcome work addressing issues in animal management or work exploring the preparation, use, or distribution of foods derived from animal sources. The journal supports the One Health Concept reflecting a shared biology at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health and welcomes multidisciplinary research exploring links between agricultural sciences and other fields.

Editors of this section welcome manuscript that present novel findings that advance current knowledge on how large and comprehensive datasets, models, and decision support systems foster the development of a more sustainable agriculture to effectively address climate change challenges. Authors are specially encouraged to present studies that demonstrate their use on the optimum design and monitoring of nature-based solutions in agriculture. Editors have strong interest in studies related to advances in sensor technology, data analytics, remote sensing, robotics, and artificial intelligence and how these tools are being applied in the current revolution of digital agriculture.

This sections aims to publish research on the nature, causes and impacts of global climate change ranging across the natural and social sciences. Studies on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as interdisciplinary studies are welcome. 

Editors of this section welcome manuscripts addressing broad and interdisciplinary issues of sustainability, ecological restoration, and conservation across ecosystems and human enterprises. We are particularly interested in manuscripts reporting new evidence, theoretical insights, and potential solutions for restoration, conservation, and sustainability practices. Editors welcome submissions aimed at topics such as connecting above and below ground processes, understanding and steering biogeochemical cycles, assessing and planning for ecosystem services, managing landscapes for production and conservation.

Original research and review articles investigating various aspects of general and applied entomology and parasitology are welcome. In particular, authors are encouraged to submit their works on: field validation of sustainable pest management strategies; development of new pest control tools; target impact of modern pesticides and their side effects on non-target organisms (e.g., natural enemies and pollinators); multi-trophic interactions among organisms of natural and artificial ecosystems; arthropod physiology, behavior and invasion processes. Interdisciplinary researches, i.e., crossing multiple journal sections, are preferred. 

Editors of this section welcome all manuscripts on fundamental or applied research related to the study of soils anywhere on the planet. We welcome studies of soil health, soil degradation, properties of soils and the study of uses for and management of soil in any agricultural or ecosystem settings worldwide. Acceptable research topics range from studies of soil contamination, degradation, health, and remediation to site assessment and function, erosion control, land treatment of wastewater and stormwater, restoration of wetlands, nutrient management, bioremediation, soil microbes, or soil assessments in land-use planning.

An evidence synthesis follows a structured predefined methodology that is designed to gather existing research evidence in order to answer a question or investigate the state of existing research. This section covers evidence syntheses that collate, summarise and synthesise scientific research. We accept systematic reviews and systematic maps that follow robust and repeatable methodologies for any topic within the journal’s scope. We do not publish review protocols (methodologies), but expect authors to have followed an a-priori protocol and to either link to the pre-existing protocol, or to make clear the full methodology that has been followed. Please see our guidance for evidence synthesis submissions here. 

We also consider commentary  articles that discuss evidence synthesis methods and points of interest (e.g. uses of evidence syntheses or discussion of alternative evidence synthesis methods such as rapid reviews).

Editors of this section welcome manuscripts addressing issues of food security that are grounded in holistic views of planetary health and that reflect intersectional concerns of social equity, environmental sustainability, and challenges posed by global climate and socio-economic change. We encourage submissions of rigorous study on a broad range of relevant topics including improving production practices, reconfiguring global agricultural economic and trade structures, improving diets, reducing waste, and creating shock resistance in food supply chains. Editors particularly welcome interdisciplinary approaches to evaluating potential trade-offs and synergies between these dimensions.

Editors of this section welcome a broad range of basic and applied research related to studies of forests and forestry.  Our editors are interested in research related to creating, managing, harvesting, conserving and restoring forests, as well as associated resources, including those from biological, physical, social, political, and managerial perspectives. The Forestry section will consider, for example, studies involving forest ecology, technology, biometrics, agroforestry, disturbance and risk management, forest health, forest impacts on climate and carbon, recreation and wilderness management. In addition, Editors of this section have particular interest in studies with specific implications for food production and ecosystem-based approaches.

Editors of this section welcome research articles focused on agricultural genomics, genetics, molecular biology, with emphasis on their applications in agriculture improvement, contributing towards zero hunger and better nutrition. Authors are encouraged to submit original manuscripts providing novel insights and approaches advancing current understanding of the global scientific community on genomics and its applications for agriculture. Innovative ideas on novel genetic methods and resources, including sequencing and genotyping technologies, bioinformatics, computational biology are also welcome that provides better understanding of genomic data analysis and its applications for agriculture.

Editors of this section welcome manuscripts focused on horticulture sciences ranging from studies of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants at small-to-large farming levels in all climates. We encourage submissions on all aspects of horticultural crops from germplasm, genetics, genomics and biotechnology to plant physiology, propagation, crop management and plant interaction with environment and cultivation systems. Editors will evaluate research related to pre-harvest and post-harvest factors that determine fruit sensorial and nutritional quality and welcome cross-disciplinary work related to socio-economic impacts of horticulture in promoting rural development and sustainability of small and urban farming.  

Editors of this section welcome manuscripts exploring all aspects of biological invasions and have special interest in work that emphasizes economically important species, be those invasive themselves, or the impact that invasive species have on them. The editors encourage submissions of all research investigating biological invasions that threaten biodiversity, ecological functioning, ecosystem services, and food security with no geographical or organismic restrictions. Submissions are encouraged covering studies that focus on quantifying the effect of invasions − biological, financial, social, or beyond − be that modelling of hypothetical situations or documenting impacts of detected invasions. 

Editors of this section welcome a broad range of research related to studies of microbiotic components and communities in humans, animals, plants, soils, air, and water. We will consider studies of microbiomes that are natural or constructed, and from a broad perspective of microbiomes across far-ranging environmental conditions to focused studies of component microorganisms. Studies might include, for example, location-specific microbiome analyses, bioremediation, geomicrobiology, microbial interaction among plants and crops, extreme environment microbiology, microbiomes associate with plant or animal health, or astrobiology. Editors of this section have particular interest in studies with specific implications for agriculture and food production.

Editors of this section welcome all research on plant diseases and pathogenic agents in agricultural and horticultural crops, forest trees, and natural plant communities including studies of fungi, bacteria and phytoplasmas, viruses and viroids, microparasites, parasitic plants, and nematodes. Editors encourage submissions in all areas of plant pathology from molecular interactions between plants, pathogens, other microbiota and vectors, to the epidemiology and ecology of disease in field populations and diverse landscapes. We are particularly interested in work emphasizing multidisciplinary links with plant protection, plant breeding, crop management, food security, soil science, and environmental health more generally.

Editors of this section welcome research on plant physiology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology, particularly with relevance to crop improvement for yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, nutritional quality, processing properties and food safety. Editors encourage submissions in all areas in plant genetics, including the interaction of plant genetics with the environment, and how that influences the development of best practices for crop management and the development of crops that are resilient to climate change. 

Editors of this section welcome manuscripts addressing the theoretical, technical and application issues of digital or precision agriculture. We encourage submissions of original study on a broad range of relevant topics including data sensing, collecting, processing, fusion, mining and services. We are particularly interested in studies that develop new technologies (such as UAV, IOT, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Robotics) and demonstrate their applications in agriculture. We also encourage the study of providing applicable and low-cost solutions for small households’ farming in developing countries for enhancing food security and poverty reduction.

Editors of this section welcome manuscripts exploring the socio-cultural, economic and behavioural dimensions associated with agricultural and bioscience innovations. We encourage work examining how innovations in global food security are mediated by social and institutional settings in developed and developing countries, including their development, dissemination, adoption, and impact. We are interested in analyses that bring together diverse stakeholder perspectives and that inform policy and regulatory regimes for agricultural development. This section provides economic and social science perspectives for developing strategies for sustainable agriculture that address the global challenges of climate and environmental change and poverty.