Conflict of Interest Policy
Journal of Agricultural Digitalization Research (JADR)

The Journal of Agricultural Digitalization Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and integrity in academic publishing. To uphold these standards, authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the content or outcome of the manuscript.

For Authors:
Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional affiliations that could potentially affect the objectivity of their research. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Financial interests: Such as funding, grants, employment, stock ownership, royalties, or patents related to the research or its outcomes, particularly those involving digital technologies, precision agriculture, smart farming solutions, or agri-informatics.
2. Personal relationships: That might influence the interpretation, analysis, or presentation of data and results.
3. Professional affiliations: Including board memberships, consultancy roles, or advisory positions with organizations (e.g., agri-tech companies, government bodies, NGOs, or digital agriculture startups) that could create a bias in the research.

All conflicts of interest must be declared during the submission process, and a statement must be included in the manuscript. If there are no conflicts to declare, authors should explicitly state:
"The authors declare no conflict of interest."

For Reviewers:
Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could compromise their ability to provide an impartial and objective assessment of the manuscript. This includes:

1. Any direct or indirect financial or personal relationships with the authors.
2. Collaborative or competitive research interests that could influence the review outcome.
3. Affiliations with institutions, companies, or initiatives related to digital agriculture or the subject matter of the manuscript.
4. If a reviewer believes their judgment may be affected, they should decline the review and notify the editorial office immediately.

For Editors:
Editors overseeing the editorial decision-making process must also disclose any conflicts of interest. If an editor has any financial, collaborative, or personal relationship with the authors or any entity associated with the manuscript (e.g., involvement in digital farming platforms or tools being discussed), they must recuse themselves from the review process. The manuscript will then be assigned to another impartial editor.

Managing Conflicts of Interest:
When a conflict of interest is identified, the Journal of Agricultural Digitalization Research will take the following actions:

1. Transparency: Any disclosed conflicts will be clearly indicated in the published article.
2. Reassignment: Manuscripts will be reassigned to ensure unbiased handling.
3. Editorial Review: The editorial board will assess any reported conflicts to determine whether appropriate actions have been taken.

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in rejection or retraction of the manuscript. JADR is committed to ensuring the integrity, credibility, and objectivity of all published content. Adherence to this policy is essential for maintaining trust in the journal and the research it disseminates.

By enforcing full disclosure and transparency, the Journal of Agricultural Digitalization Research continues to support the ethical advancement of knowledge in digital and data-driven agricultural innovation.