1. Introduction

Agricultural & Rural Studies (A&R, ISSN: 2959-9784) is an international, multidisciplinary scholarly platform committed to advancing global agricultural and rural development through the dissemination of cutting-edge research on critical issues and policies surrounding the "agriculture-rural-farmer" (sannong) nexus. By integrating disciplinary rigor with practical innovation, the journal fosters critical dialogue, translates theoretical insights into actionable solutions, and serves as a catalyst for evidence-based rural revitalization worldwide.

A&R invites submissions across a diverse range of article types—including Perspective articles (synthesizing emerging trends), Review articles (comprehensive syntheses of existing scholarship, ranging from narrative overviews to systematic and scoping reviews; see Section 1.1.2), Original Research articles (empirical or theoretical contributions), and Commentary articles (contextual or policy-oriented analyses)—all centered on advancing interdisciplinary understanding of agricultural and rural development dynamics.

1.1 Article Types

Below, we outline the manuscript categories published by A&R to assist authors in determining suitable submission formats, aligned with the journal's scholarly objectives and formatting guidelines. A&R publishes two main types of articles—Original Research and Review—with two supplementary types (Perspective, Commentary) for specific purposes. Authors should select the type that best matches their manuscript's scope and methodology.

1.1.1 Perspective Articles

Perspective articles provide a platform for authors to critically engage with theoretical frameworks or innovative concepts through a personalized interpretive lens. These pieces aim to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue by contextualizing emerging trends, challenging established paradigms, or proposing novel research directions.

Perspective articles typically range from 3,000 to 5,000 words (including abstract, references, and figures). They should consist of a short, pithy title; an abstract (max. 250 words); references (max. 35 items); and up to two figures or tables.

1.1.2 Review Articles

Review articles synthesize, evaluate, and contextualize existing scholarship within a defined subfield of agricultural, rural, or farmer-related studies. They serve to map disciplinary progress, identify knowledge gaps, or resolve theoretical controversies, thereby guiding future research agendas. A&R recognizes four review subtypes based on methodology: Narrative/Standard Review, Systematic Review (with or without meta-analysis), Scoping Review, and Mixed-Methods/Qualitative Synthesis. Each subtype has distinct transparency and reporting requirements (see Section 2.5). All reviews should not exceed 10,000 words (excluding references) with up to 100 references, unless justified by exceptional academic value. Authors must explicitly state the review subtype in the manuscript title or Methods section.

1.1.3 Original Research Articles

Original Research Articles present empirical or theoretical contributions that advance knowledge in agricultural, rural, or farmer-related domains. These submissions must report original, previously unpublished findings with methodological rigor and analytical depth. A&R welcomes diverse research designs, including but not limited to: quantitative empirical (household surveys, experiments, econometric analysis, remote sensing); qualitative empirical (interviews, ethnography, case studies, participatory action research); mixed-methods (sequential or concurrent integration); theoretical/conceptual (model development, framework synthesis); and methodological (new analytical tools, validation studies). Original Research Articles should not exceed 8,000 words (excluding references) and a maximum of 12 display items (figures and/or tables combined). Authors should select the reporting guideline appropriate to their design (see Section 2.5).

1.1.4 Commentary Articles

Commentary Articles are brief, focused analyses of timely issues relevant to agricultural, rural, or farmer studies. These pieces often respond to recent publications, policy developments, or emerging empirical phenomena, offering critical insights or actionable recommendations. Commentary Articles should not exceed 1,000 words, with a maximum of 10 references and no figures or tables.

Note: Word limits stated above are targets, not absolute disqualifiers. Manuscripts exceeding the stated limit may be accepted when the extended length is justified by exceptional academic value (e.g., novelty, methodological innovation, critical research gaps addressing agricultural and rural development). Editors may request condensation during revision. Authors anticipating a significant overrun are encouraged to comment briefly in the Cover Letter.

1.2 Template

A&R believes that authors should be informed of the layout of their publication as early as possible in the process. The template facilitates a speedy editorial workflow. We provide a well-designed, easy-to-follow template for MS Word, available here: (Template) MS Word.

Moreover, A&R recommends EndNote as a reference manager; you can find our EndNote output style here: (Template) EndNote.

If you use EndNote, references in the text and bibliography may appear as field codes (marked with a gray background). Make sure that all field codes and hidden links are removed from the manuscript before submission.

2. Before You Start

2.1 Manuscript Submission

Submission of a manuscript to A&R constitutes an explicit commitment by the corresponding author that: (1) the work has not been previously published, in whole or in part, in any peer-reviewed journal, edited volume, or other scholarly platform; (2) the work is not under concurrent consideration by another publisher or platform for formal publication; and (3) the submission has received written approval from all coauthors and, where applicable, the relevant authorities or institutions under whose jurisdiction the research was conducted.

For the avoidance of doubt, SCC PRESS expressly disclaims liability for any claims arising from breach of these commitments, including but not limited to disputes over prior publication, overlapping submissions, or unauthorized use of institutional resources.

2.1.1 Permissions

Authors must secure prior written permission from the copyright holder(s) before submitting manuscripts that include figures, tables, or text excerpts previously published in other scholarly outlets (e.g., journals, books, conference proceedings). This requirement applies to all materials reproduced, adapted, or quoted in whole or in part from external sources.

To comply with this policy, authors must submit documentary evidence of such permissions (e.g., official permission letters, formal licenses, or confirmation from the original publisher) as part of their manuscript submission package. Failure to provide valid documentation for any third-party material will result in the assumption that the content is original to the authors and has not been previously published or licensed for reuse.

2.1.2 Online Submission

To submit a manuscript, please click the hyperlink "Submit Manuscript" and follow the instructions.

2.1.3 Source Files

Please ensure that all relevant editable source files are submitted with each manuscript submission, including subsequent revisions. A&R exclusively accepts manuscripts in common word-processing formats, with .DOCX (Microsoft Word) being the preferred format. This requirement ensures that editorial and production teams can efficiently manage revisions, formatting, and final publication processes.

2.2 Author Principles

To clarify authorship and contributions, author names and affiliations are listed at the manuscript's outset. Accuracy of these details is critical: errors may result in misattribution, incorrect citations, or even hinder career advancement and funding opportunities.

A&R upholds the highest integrity standards for published content. Authors must comply with A&R's Publication Ethics Statement and adhere to principles of authorship and best practices.

According to the COPE position statement on AI tools, AI-generated content (including large language models) cannot perform the role of authors and cannot be listed as authors. The use of AI tools should be fully and accurately disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgments section in an open, transparent, and detailed manner.

2.2.1 Authorship Criteria

A&R and SCC PRESS presume submissions reflect the full support and agreement of all authors, including institutional approval (especially for sensitive or funded research).

Authors should follow field-specific authorship guidelines. Where none exist, the following criteria apply to all listed authors:

• Substantially contributed to the work's conception/design, data acquisition/analysis/interpretation, or new software development;
• Drafted or critically revised the intellectual content and approved the final published version;
• Agreed to accountability for all aspects of the work, including the accuracy and integrity of its components.

2.2.2 Role of the Corresponding Author

One author is designated as the Corresponding Author to manage A&R—coauthor communications, before or after publication, and to address queries regarding the manuscript's accuracy or integrity on behalf of all coauthors.

2.2.3 Affiliation

Authors should list their primary affiliation as the institution where most of the work was conducted; current addresses may be included if applicable. If one or all the authors are not currently affiliated with a university, institution, or company, or have not been during the development of the manuscript, they should list themselves as an "Independent Researcher" as their affiliation. Detailed formatting requirements for affiliations (including the use of official English names and postal codes) are provided in Section 3.1.2 (By-line).

A&R does not permit post-publication changes to affiliations or addresses. A&R verifies author identities and may contact authors to confirm details as needed. Misrepresentation of affiliations is a serious offense and may be considered fraudulent.

2.2.4 Change to Authorship

Post-acceptance changes to authorship, corresponding author, or author order are strongly discouraged and generally not permitted. An exception may be made only in extraordinary circumstances—such as the demonstrable omission of a contributor who clearly meets the authorship criteria—and only through a formal correction (Corrigendum) process, requiring (i) the written consent of all authors, (ii) a detailed justification, and (iii) final approval by the Editor-in-Chief. Requests should be submitted to the Editorial Office prior to final publication; changes after online publication follow the correction procedure set out in Publication Ethics 4.4(3).

2.2.5 Author Identification (ORCID)

A&R strongly advises authors to use their ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) when submitting articles. Our submission systems and publication workflows fully support the ORCID identifier—a unique ID that attaches your identity to your research work, such as articles and datasets, eliminating confusion with researchers who share similar names.

Registering for an ORCID takes approximately 30 seconds and only needs to be done once. Get your iD from ORCID.org. The ORCID iD icon will appear next to your name in the published article, linking readers to your profile.

2.2.6 Deceased or Incapacitated Authors

If an author dies or loses decision-making capacity during the writing, submission, or peer-review process, and coauthors wish to include them in the publication, written approval from the deceased or incapacitated author's legal representative must be obtained.

2.2.7 Authorship Issues or Disputes

A&R does not investigate or adjudicate authorship disputes during peer review, post-acceptance, or post-publication stages. Authors are expected to resolve such conflicts independently. If resolution proves impossible, A&R retains the right to withdraw the manuscript from editorial processing or engage the authors' institution(s), adhering to institutional guidelines.

2.2.8 Confidentiality

Authors should treat all communications with A&R as confidential, including correspondence with direct representatives such as Editors-in-Chief and/or Handling Editors and reviewers' reports, unless explicit consent has been received to share such information.

2.2.9 Authors Unable to Approve / Inactive Authors

If an author cannot be reached to approve submission, revision, or publication (e.g., unresponsive for ≥3 months, career change, unknown whereabouts), the corresponding author must:

• Document reasonable efforts to contact the author (emails to institutional/personal addresses).
• Obtain consensus from all reachable co-authors on authorship retention.
• Disclose the situation to the Editorial Office before final acceptance.

An unreachable author's name may be retained as an author provided their contribution meets the CRediT criteria; their affiliation should be listed as "Unknown" if necessary. The Editorial Office may request institutional verification.

2.2.10 Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools

Scope and Principle. This section applies only to substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in the preparation of a manuscript. No disclosure is required if no such tools were used. Routine spelling, grammar, and punctuation checkers, and light language copy-editing that does not alter scholarly content, are excluded and need not be disclosed. Substantive drafting, rewriting, literature screening, translation, code generation, figure/map creation, or data processing must be disclosed.

Where to disclose. If disclosure is required, authors should include a brief statement in the Methods section (or in the Acknowledgments if discipline norms prefer and no scholarly content was generated). A dedicated “AI Statement” as a separate section before the References is not required and should be avoided to reduce end-of-article clutter. For image/map generation or statistical code, additional details must be provided as specified below. Any third-party professional editing or writing service must also be named in the Acknowledgments and Cover Letter (see Section 3.1.11).

Basic template. The statement should follow this format:

"During the preparation of this work, the authors used [TOOL NAME AND VERSION] for [PURPOSE]. The use was limited to [SPECIFY SECTIONS OR ARTEFACTS AFFECTED]; all outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors. The authors take full responsibility for the content. No AI tool was listed as an author."

Expanded disclosure requirements by use case:

• Literature search: If AI tools (e.g., Elicit, Consensus) were used for literature screening or discovery, authors must verify all outputs against original sources and list the tool and search parameters in the Methods.
• Image/map generation: Any use of generative AI for figures, maps, or diagrams must specify the model, version, prompt, and whether the output is based on real data (e.g., satellite imagery, survey maps). AI-generated visual elements must be clearly labelled as such in the figure caption. Synthetic maps must not be presented as surveyed data.
• Statistical code: AI-generated code (e.g., R, Python, Stata scripts) must be audited by the authors; the AI tool and its role must be disclosed in the Methods or Code Availability section.
• Translation: If AI was used for translation between languages, this must be stated (e.g., "Translation was assisted by [TOOL] and verified by the authors / a professional translator").

Prohibitions.

• AI tools must not be used to generate citations or references without manual verification. Citing AI-generated fictitious references is considered academic misconduct.
• AI must not be used to draft peer review reports (see 2.6).
• AI-generated or AI-altered research images, photographs, maps, or primary data visualizations are prohibited unless the AI use is itself the research method, in which case the model, version, parameters, training/validation data, and reproducibility steps must be described in the Methods and the figures labelled accordingly.

Enforcement. Manuscripts that fail to disclose substantive AI use may be returned for revision prior to peer review. Detected undisclosed use after acceptance may lead to correction or retraction.

2.3 Scientific Style

2.3.1 Regional Terminology Guidance

A&R publishes research on rural and agricultural issues across diverse geographic contexts. Authors should be mindful that reviewers and readers may not be familiar with country- or region-specific policies, institutions, or concepts.

For studies involving such terms (e.g., China's "Rural Revitalization Strategy," India's "MGNREGA," Brazil's "Pronaf"), authors should provide a brief explanatory note in parentheses on first use (e.g., "Targeted Poverty Alleviation (a Chinese policy initiative to eliminate extreme poverty by 2020)").

A glossary of region-specific terms may be included as supplementary material to facilitate review and readership. Subsequent uses of abbreviated regional terms should follow 2.3.2 (Acronyms and Abbreviations).

2.3.2 Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Initialisms

Acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms must be defined upon first use in each of the following sections: the abstract, the main text, and the first figure or table. On first mention, the full term should be followed by the acronym/abbreviation/initialism in parentheses (e.g., "Institutional Review Board (IRB)"). A list of all acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms should be provided in the "Abbreviations" section of the manuscript.

2.3.3 International System of Units (SI Units)

The International System of Units (SI) must be used throughout. Imperial, U.S. customary, and other non-SI units should be converted to SI units wherever possible.

2.3.4 Nomenclature

Authors should, to the extent feasible, use systematic names consistent with those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) or the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS).

2.3.5 Equations

• Software requirements: Use either Microsoft Equation Editor or the MathType add-on for inserting equations in Word documents. Equations must be editable by the editorial office and must not appear as static images.
• Symbol Formatting: (a) Single letters representing mathematical constants, variables, or unknown quantities should be italicized. (b) Numerals, operators, punctuation, and commonly used functions/abbreviations should be in Roman (upright) type. (c) Vectors, tensors, and matrices should be bolded.

2.3.6 Plant Latin Names

Plant species names must follow the binomial nomenclature system (genus + species), with the following formatting rules:

• Genus and species epithet: The genus name is capitalized and italicized; the species epithet is lowercase and italicized (e.g., Rosa chinensis).
• Author citation: When first mentioned, include the abbreviated name of the authority (e.g., Rosa chinensis Jacq.).
• Subsequent references: After the first full citation, the genus name may be abbreviated (e.g., R. chinensis Jacq.).
• Special cases: For subspecies (subsp.), varieties (var.), or forms (f.), use the appropriate infraspecific rank designator.

2.3.7 Animal Latin Names

Animal species names must adhere to the binomial nomenclature system (genus + species), following the standards set by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN):

• Genus and species epithet: The genus name is capitalized and italicized; the species epithet is lowercase and italicized (e.g., Panthera tigris).
• Author citation: When first mentioned, include the abbreviated name of the authority and the publication year (e.g., Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758)).
• Subsequent references: After the first full citation, the genus name may be abbreviated (e.g., P. tigris (L., 1758)).
• Infraspecific ranks: For subspecies, populations, or other infraspecific categories, use standardized designators.
• Uncertain taxonomy: For species of uncertain classification, append "sp." (singular) or "spp." (plural) (e.g., Canis sp.).

2.3.8 Reporting Standards for Empirical Research

Discipline note: The following standards primarily address quantitative empirical research (e.g., econometric analysis, household surveys, experimental designs). For qualitative, mixed-methods, or spatial/geographic research, authors should additionally or alternatively follow the reporting guidelines specified in Section 2.5.

• Sample design: Description of sampling frame, response rate, and weighting methods (if any).
• Variable construction: Detailed definition of key variables, including measurement scales and reliability (e.g., Cronbach's α for scales).
• Model assumptions: Tests for multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation, or other assumptions relevant to the chosen method.
• Robustness checks: Location of sensitivity analyses, alternative specifications, or falsification tests.
• Effect sizes: Report standardized coefficients, marginal effects, or other interpretable metrics alongside p-values.
• Software and versions: State the software (e.g., Stata 18, R 4.3.1) and key packages used for analysis.

2.4 Use of Inclusive Language

Inclusive language advocates respect for diversity, sensitivity to differences, and equity of opportunity by avoiding assumptions about readers' identities or beliefs. A&R prohibits content that implies superiority based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability, or medical condition. Authors must ensure writing is free of bias, stereotypes, slang, dominant cultural references, or unsubstantiated cultural assumptions.

Key recommendations include:

• Prioritizing gender-neutral pronouns (e.g., "they/them") over defaults like "he/she" where grammatically feasible.
• Limiting descriptors of personal attributes (age, gender, etc.) to contexts where they are directly relevant and validated.
• Replacing exclusionary coding terms (e.g., "master/slave," "blacklist/whitelist") with inclusive alternatives ("primary/secondary," "blocklist/allowlist").

2.5 Reporting Guidelines

A&R requires adherence to discipline-specific reporting guidelines to ensure transparency and reproducibility. Authors must upload a completed checklist as supplementary material where applicable.

Original Research:

• CONSORT — randomized trials (field or lab experiments) — Mandatory
• STROBE — observational studies (surveys, cohort, panel data) — Mandatory (or equivalent design transparency)
• COREQ / SRQR — qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, ethnography) — Mandatory
• JARS-Mixed / MMAT — mixed-methods research — Mandatory
• ARRIVE 2.0 — animal studies — Mandatory
• Theoretical / Conceptual — Recommended: provide explicit framework description

Review Articles:

• PRISMA 2020 — Systematic Review / Meta-analysis — Mandatory (checklist + flow diagram)
• PRISMA-ScR — Scoping Review — Mandatory
• Narrative / Standard Review — PRISMA not required; "Literature Selection" subsection required
• ENTREQ / CERQual / JBI — Qualitative Synthesis — Mandatory
• CARE / SQUIRE — case reports / quality improvement — Mandatory

Additional Transparency Requirements for Reviews (all subtypes):

Narrative/Standard Review: Must include a "Literature Selection" or "Search Strategy" subsection detailing scope and research question; databases/platforms and date ranges; keywords, themes, or search logic; inclusion/exclusion criteria; screening process; and limitations of the literature base.

Systematic Review: Full search strings for every database; dual independent screening with documented adjudication; risk-of-bias tool appropriate to study designs; GRADE or CERQual; registration number or explicit non-registration justification.

Scoping Review: PCC (Population, Concept, Context) framework; PRISMA-ScR checklist and flow diagram; dual screening recommended.

Discipline-Specific Guidance for A&R's Core Fields:

Economics: For non-effectiveness literature reviews, full PRISMA and GRADE are not mandatory; a clear "Literature Selection" section suffices. Grey literature should be described in the search strategy.

Sociology: Qualitative empirical studies must use COREQ or SRQR. Qualitative syntheses should follow ENTREQ with CERQual confidence assessments. Mixed-methods reviews use MMAT.

Human Geography: Literature mapping or conceptual boundary reviews are best served by PRISMA-ScR. Original research must report spatial scale, coordinate system, projection, GIS/remote sensing data sources and resolution, sampling framework, and spatial checks.

General Agricultural and Rural Research Advice: Search beyond Web of Science and Scopus (CNKI, AGRIS, CAB Abstracts, EconLit, grey literature). Explain country-specific policies on first use. Use GRADE/CERQual for evidence certainty.

Checklists are available via the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/).

2.5.1 Review Methods Minimum Transparency Checklist

All review submissions should address the following in the Methods section:

• Review type and research question (PICO/PECO/PCC/narrative aim).
• Databases and platforms searched, with date of last search.
• Full search string for at least one database; all strings in supplementary material.
• Eligibility criteria; number of reviewers for screening; disagreement resolution rule.
• Data-extraction form; quality/appraisal tool by study design.
• Synthesis method (narrative/meta-analysis/thematic mapping).
• Certainty/confidence assessment (GRADE/CERQual/other) or limitations statement.
• Registration ID (if applicable) or explicit non-registration justification.
• PRISMA/PRISMA-ScR checklist and flow diagram (required for systematic and scoping reviews only).

2.5.2 Pre-Submission Reporting Checklist

Authors are encouraged to complete the following checklist before final submission to ensure all required reporting elements are in place. This complements the discipline-specific guidelines in Section 2.5 and the review transparency checklist in Section 2.5.1.

• Reporting guideline checklist uploaded — Required for all study designs
• Structured abstract — Encouraged for Original Research and Review; not required. Unstructured single‑paragraph abstract (≤250 words) is acceptable for all article types, especially Perspective and Commentary (per Section 3.1.3).
• CRediT author statement (Section 3.1.5) — Required
• Data Availability Statement (Section 3.8.2) — Required for Original Research; Recommended for Reviews.
• Ethics/IRB statement (Section 3.1.9) — Required if applicable
• Field-site/community consent (Section 3.1.12) — Required for rural field research
• Review subtype stated in title/Methods (Section 1.1.2) — Required for reviews
• "Literature Selection" subsection — Required for Narrative/Standard Reviews
• PRISMA/PRISMA-ScR checklist + flow diagram — Required for systematic and scoping reviews
• Registration number or justification — Required for systematic and scoping reviews
• Regional terminology explained on first use (Section 2.3.1) — Recommended
• AI use disclosure if applicable (Section 2.2.10) — Required if used

2.6 Peer Review Policy

A&R operates a double-blind peer-review process in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed from one another throughout the evaluation. This mechanism safeguards impartiality by mitigating potential biases related to authors' seniority, gender, institutional affiliation, geographic origin, or other personal characteristics, ensuring that each manuscript is assessed solely on its academic merit.

Review process. All Original Research and Review articles are evaluated by a minimum of two independent external reviewers. The handling editor (Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor) is responsible for reviewer selection and for synthesizing the reviewers' reports into a recommendation. The final publication decision rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief. For a detailed, step-by-step description of the editorial workflow—from initial screening through final decision—please see our Roadmap to Publication (Sections 3–5).

Timeline. A&R is committed to both quality and efficiency and aims to provide an initial editorial decision within three months of submission. Standard decisions are: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

Reviewer suggestions. Authors are invited to suggest potential reviewers or to request exclusions; such suggestions are advisory and do not guarantee or preclude any individual's invitation. Full details are provided in 2.8 below.

Confidentiality and integrity. Manuscripts under review are treated as confidential. Reviewers must not share or upload unpublished manuscripts, excerpts, or supplementary materials to any AI/LLM tool (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar platforms) for analysis, summarization, translation, or any other processing of manuscript content. Such uploads constitute a breach of confidentiality under this journal's peer review policy. Reviewers may use AI tools to improve the language of their own comments only if the manuscript content is not transmitted to a third-party AI service; such use should be disclosed in the report or to the editorial office.

2.7 Preprints and Prior Dissemination

A&R supports the dissemination of research through preprint servers (e.g., arXiv, SSRN, OSF, Preprints.org) prior to submission. Authors must:

• Disclose any preprint deposition at submission (provide URL/DOI).
• Confirm the preprint is not under formal journal review elsewhere.
• Acknowledge the preprint in the published version.

Secondary publication (e.g., translation, abridged version) is permissible only with prior permission from the original publisher and appropriate citation/footnote to the primary version, in line with the COPE criteria.

2.8 Reviewer Suggestions

A&R operates a double-blind peer review process; authors' and reviewers' identities are concealed from each other. To support the editorial team in identifying suitable reviewers, authors are invited to:

• Suggest up to 3 potential reviewers — please provide name, affiliation, and email address for each.
• Exclude up to 2 reviewers — authors may request that specific individuals not be invited (e.g., due to recent collaboration, institutional affiliation, personal dispute, or other conflict of interest). A brief justification is required.

Important: All reviewer suggestions are advisory. Editorial decisions on reviewer selection rest solely with the handling editor; suggestions do not guarantee or preclude any individual's invitation. The editorial office will ensure that suggested reviewers have no known conflicts of interest with the authors and will maintain the double-blind protocol throughout the review process.

Reviewer suggestions should be provided in the submission system at the time of manuscript upload. Alternatively, they may be included in the Cover Letter.

2.9 Article Processing Charges (APC)

A&R is a fully open access journal. Article Processing Charges (APC) cover the costs of editorial and production services, ensuring that all articles are freely available to readers worldwide without subscription barriers.

APC Rates

• 2023–2026: Fully waived. Thanks to the generous support of the Rural Revitalization Academy of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A&F University, no APC is charged for all articles published during this initial four-year funding period.
• From 2027 onwards: USD 1,500 (excluding taxes) per article.

Waivers and Discounts

• Research4Life Group A countries: Full APC waiver (100% discount) for all articles where all authors are based in Group A countries.
• Research4Life Group B countries: 50% APC discount for all authors based in Group B countries.
• Non-Research4Life countries: Authors may request an APC waiver on a case-by-case basis if they can demonstrate significant financial difficulty. Contact the Editorial Office (ruizhang@sccpress.com) before submission.

What the APC Covers

The APC funds the full editorial and production pipeline from submission to permanent archiving: editorial and peer-review administration; plagiarism and integrity screening; copy-editing and typesetting; DOI registration and indexing support; long-term digital preservation (LOCKSS and PKP PN); and article promotion and dissemination.

No additional charges are levied for color figures, supplementary materials, or page/figure excess. For any questions regarding APC, waivers, or payments, please contact the Editorial Office at ruizhang@sccpress.com.

2.10 Pre-submission Inquiry (Optional)

Authors who are uncertain whether their manuscript falls within A&R's scope or fits the journal's aims may submit a brief pre-submission inquiry before preparing a full manuscript.

To make an inquiry, send a one-page summary (including the working title, abstract, and 2–3 key findings) to ruizhang@sccpress.com with the subject line "Pre-submission Inquiry: [working title]".

The editorial team will respond within 5 working days with an initial scope assessment. This service is free of charge and helps authors avoid investing time in a full submission that may fall outside the journal's scope. Please note that a positive pre-submission response does not guarantee acceptance, but provides a strong indication of suitability. A pre-submission inquiry is entirely optional and carries no obligation to submit.

3. Preparation for Submission

3.0 Submission Files Overview

A&R operates a double-blind peer review process. To ensure anonymity and a speedy editorial workflow, authors must prepare and upload THREE separate components. Failure to comply with the file structure below may result in desk rejection or unblinding delays.

The three required components are:

File	Content	Anonymized?	Notes
1. Title Page (separate .DOCX)	Title; full author list; affiliations (incl. "Independent Researcher"); ORCIDs; corresponding author contact; funding; acknowledgments; conflicts of interest.	No — contains author identity	Not sent to reviewers. Must be uploaded as a distinct file.
2. Main Manuscript (anonymized .DOCX)	Abstract; keywords; main text (Introduction to Conclusions); figures/tables; Back Matter in fixed 3.3 order at the end.	Yes — all author info removed	Sent to reviewers. Must contain no author names, institutions, or revealing acknowledgments.
Supplementary Material / Cover Letter	Uploaded separately as distinct files; the Cover Letter is for editorial use and is not sent to reviewers. The Back Matter is never uploaded as a separate file—it forms the closing part of the anonymized Main Manuscript (see 3.3).	Partially — see 3.3	Mandatory fixed order (see 3.3).

Quick Checklist for Authors  ① Title Page (identity; NOT sent to reviewers)  •  ② anonymized Main Manuscript (Abstract, Keywords, main text, figures & tables, Back Matter in fixed 3.3 order)  •  ③ Supplementary Material (uploaded separately)  •  ④ Cover Letter (submitted separately).

Note: The three files above form the complete submission package. Sections 3.1–3.3 below detail the content and formatting of each component.

3.1 Title Page (separate file; contains author identity)

To ensure fair and anonymous peer review, your manuscript must be fully anonymized. Please ensure any identifying information is removed from the main manuscript document and included on the Title Page instead. The Title Page is for editorial office use only and will not be shared with reviewers.

The Title Page must include the following elements in this order.

3.1.1 Title

The title should be accurate, informative, and introduce the research work to the fullest extent in a concise manner. The title gives readers the main take-away of the entire research and its key findings and must not contain brand names.

3.1.2 By-line

The by-line lists author information and attribution, including full names and affiliations of each author. To ensure accurate indexing, citation, and global discoverability, all author names and affiliations must follow the formatting rules below.

Author Names

All author names should normally be provided in Latin script, in the format GivenName FamilyName. Authors with an established publication and indexing history under a different name order may request an exception; ORCID consistency takes precedence.

Romanization for non-Latin scripts: For authors whose names are not written in the Latin alphabet (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Arabic), a Romanized version of the name must be provided for indexing and citation purposes.

• Capitalization: Only the first letter of each name component should be capitalized. Examples: Oliver Mußhoff, Jean-Pierre Lévy, Wei Zhang, Taro Yamada, Minjun Kim.
• Latin-alphabet names (German, French, Spanish, etc.): Retain original spelling exactly as preferred, including all diacritical marks and special characters. Do not anglicize or transliterate without explicit author consent.
• Non-Latin-alphabet names: Must be Romanized using standard scholarly systems (Chinese: Standard Hanyu Pinyin; Japanese: Hepburn Romaji; Korean: Revised Romanization; Other languages: accepted transliteration standards).
• Compound/multi-part surnames: Keep hyphens or spaces as the author uses (Ou-Yang, Martínez-Valderrama, da Silva, al-Sayed).
• Consistency: Authors must use the same Romanized spelling as in their previous publications to ensure accurate indexing.

Author Affiliations

All affiliations must be provided exclusively in English, using the institution's official English name. No original-language names, non-Latin scripts, or parenthetical translations are permitted.

• Format: Department/School, Institution, City, Postal Code, Country. (Postal codes are required; if a location does not use postal codes, the city and country should still be provided.)
• Examples: Department of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin 10115, Germany; College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
• No official English name: If an institution does not have an official English name, authors must use the standard English translation most widely accepted in international academia.

Additional by-line elements:

• A clear indication and a current, active e-mail address of the corresponding author.
• (If available) the 16-digit ORCID of the author(s).
• For authors who are not currently affiliated with a university, institution, or company, or have not been during the development of the manuscript, they should list themselves as an "Independent Researcher". The affiliation line should be formatted as: "Independent Researcher, City, Postal Code (if applicable), Country" (e.g., Independent Researcher, Beijing 100083, China). No further personal information (e.g., personal email) should be included unless specifically requested.
• Contact information for the corresponding author: name, institutional address, phone, email.

The editorial office reserves the right to standardize name and affiliation formatting during copyediting to ensure compliance with the above rules.

3.1.3 Abstract

Please provide an abstract (max. 250 words). An abstract is a concise summary of the details within a paper, allows readers to grasp the gist or essence of your research, and should not contain any undefined abbreviations or unspecified references.

Structured abstracts are encouraged (but not required) for all empirical and theoretical submissions. Authors may adapt subsection headings to fit their research design, and should present the abstract as a single paragraph with each heading in bold:

• Quantitative studies: Background: ... Methods: ... Results: ... Conclusions: ...
• Qualitative studies: Context/Aim: ... Data & Fieldwork: ... Key Themes/Findings: ... Implications: ...
• Mixed-methods: Background: ... Methods: ... Results (quantitative & qualitative): ... Synthesis: ...
• Theoretical/Conceptual: Background: ... Framework: ... Key Arguments: ... Implications: ...
• Review articles: Systematic and Scoping Reviews should follow PRISMA/PRISMA-ScR guidance (see Section 2.5); Narrative or Standard Reviews may use "Key Findings:" or "Synthesis:" instead of "Results:"; Scoping Reviews may alternatively use "Mapping:".

Unstructured abstracts (single paragraph, ≤250 words, no headings) remain fully acceptable for all article types, particularly Perspective and Commentary articles.

Note: If a longer abstract is needed, authors are encouraged to comment on the reasons in the cover letter. A&R will review such requests on a case-by-case basis.

3.1.4 Keywords

Provide 4–6 keywords that demonstrate high relevance to the manuscript's title and core thematic content. Include methodology terms if novel methods are central. Selected keywords should be effective for indexing the work.

3.1.5 CRediT Author Statement

A CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) author statement is required at two locations:

• Cover Letter — for editorial review only, not sent to reviewers;
• Main Manuscript (final Back Matter, position 1 per Section 3.3) — will appear in the published paper.

During double-blind review, the CRediT statement in the anonymized Main Manuscript may list authors as placeholders (e.g., "Author 1, Author 2…") with their roles only; full names, ORCIDs, and affiliations must not appear in the anonymized CRediT block. The Title Page and the final proof contain full names. Both versions must otherwise be identical. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the descriptions are accurate and agreed upon by all authors. CRediT roles include: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing.

Sample CRediT author statement:

Yi Mon Thu: Conceptualization, Data curation, Software, Validation, Visualization, Investigation, Writing—review & editing; San San Htwe: Methodology, Investigation; Nyein Nyein Htwe: Supervision; Kathryn Gomersall: Supervision.

3.1.6 Data Availability Statement

Please refer to Section 3.8.2 (“Data Availability Statement”) for detailed guidance and template options. During double‑blind review, use an anonymized repository link in the statement and replace it with the full DOI after acceptance.

Double-blind review. To preserve anonymity, deposit data under an anonymized repository link (e.g., private share link with author identity removed) and provide the link in the manuscript only after all identifying information has been stripped; a full public DOI may replace the anonymized link at acceptance.

A&R encourages authors to enhance reproducibility by sharing analysis code and, where applicable, preregistering study designs. See Section 3.8.2 for the Data Availability Statement template, optional code and preregistration formats, and field-data sensitivity guidance.

3.1.7 Funding

Authors should clearly identify the financial support for the conduct of the research and/or preparation of the article.

Explicit disclosure: "This research received no external funding" or "This research was funded by [NAME OF FUNDER], grant number XXX" and "The APC was funded by XXX." Multiple grant numbers should be separated by commas; multiple agencies by semicolons.

Recommended context (optional but valuable): Authors are also encouraged to briefly describe the role played by the sponsor(s) in study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing the report, and deciding to submit the article for publication. Similarly, authors should indicate if the funding source(s) did not have any such involvement.

For double-blind review, authors may move full funding details to the Title Page and provide an anonymized statement in the Back Matter (3.3, item 3), replacing grant numbers with "[anonymized for review]".

3.1.8 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose financial or non-financial interests directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Authors should avoid entering into agreements with study sponsors that interfere with authors' access to all of the study's data or interfere with their ability to analyze and interpret the data and to prepare and publish manuscripts independently.

All authors must disclose any relationships or interests that might inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential conflicts of interest include but are not limited to financial interests (such as membership, employment, consultancies, stock/share ownership, honoraria, grants or other funding, paid expert testimonies, and patent-licensing arrangements) and non-financial interests (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, or personal beliefs).

Sample disclosure statements:

• With conflicts: "Author A has received research grants from Company A. Author B has received a speaker honorarium from Company X and owns stocks in Company Y. Author C has been involved as a consultant and expert witness in Company Z."
• Without conflicts: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

Important: Even if no conflicts are identified, authors must explicitly state "The authors declare no conflicts of interest" to ensure transparency. Failure to disclose relevant interests may delay review or publication.

3.1.9 IRB Statement

In this section, authors must include an IRB (Institutional Review Board) or Ethics Committee statement and approval number if the study required ethical review. For studies not necessitating ethical approval, this section may be omitted (though the Editorial Office may request additional information if needed). Specifically:

• For human subjects' research: "The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of [NAME OF INSTITUTE] (protocol code: XXX; approval date: [DATE])."
• For animal research: "The animal study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board or Animal Care and Use Committee, as applicable, of [NAME OF INSTITUTE] (protocol code: XXX; approval date: [DATE])." Where national legislation or the funding body requires a different oversight body, name that body and the applicable approval reference.
• For ethically waived studies: "Ethical review and approval were waived for this study due to [detailed justification]."
• For non-human/non-animal studies: "Not applicable."

3.1.10 Informed Consent Statement

Any research article describing a study involving human participants must include an informed consent statement. Authors should use one of the following formulations:

• "Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study."
• "Patient consent was waived due to [detailed justification]." (Provide a clear rationale for waiver.)
• "Not applicable." (For studies not involving humans.)

Additionally, for studies involving identifiable patients (including self-identified individuals), written informed consent for publication must be obtained. If applicable, include the statement: "Written informed consent has been obtained from the patient(s) to publish this paper."

3.1.11 Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments of people, grants, funds, etc. should be placed in a separate section on the Title Page. The names of funding organizations should be written in full. Authors are encouraged to follow the funder's specific guidance on acknowledgments (if applicable).

The Acknowledgments section should include all contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship. It is best practice to obtain consent from non-author contributors whom you are acknowledging in your manuscript.

Writing assistance and third-party submissions: If you have received any writing or editing assistance from a third party, this must be clearly stated in the Acknowledgments section and in the covering letter. If a non-author third party (e.g., a writing/editing service provider) is submitting the manuscript on your behalf, this must be disclosed in both the Acknowledgments and the cover letter.

For double-blind review: Only include acknowledgments that do not reveal author identity in the Main Manuscript; move identity-revealing acknowledgments to the Title Page.

3.1.12 Field-Site Access, Community Consent, and Data Sensitivity

In addition to standard IRB/ethics committee approval (Section 3.3, item 5), field research in agricultural and rural settings may require additional community-level consent or field-site access permissions. Researchers should describe these arrangements in the Methods and provide documentation as a confidential supplementary file. De-identification procedures must be summarized in the Data Availability Statement (Section 3.8.2). If signed community-consent documents contain village, author, or institution names, do not upload them into the anonymized manuscript; provide an anonymized paragraph in the Methods and submit the signed documents as confidential supplementary material for the editors only.

• At submission: upload field-site/community permission documents as confidential supplementary files for editorial review only (not forwarded to reviewers). Where such documents contain author, village, or institutional identifiers, provide an anonymized summary in the Methods (e.g., "Fieldwork was conducted with permission from the relevant village authority and individual participants") and keep the full signed documents in the editorial office file.
• In the manuscript: Briefly mention any field-site permissions or community consent in the Methods section.
• Data sensitivity: For studies involving smallholder farmers, indigenous groups, or marginalized communities, de-identification procedures must be described in the Data Availability Statement (3.1.6 / 3.7.2).

Editors may request further documentation during peer review. Failure to provide required approvals may result in rejection or retraction.

3.2 Main Manuscript (anonymized for double-blind review)

The Main Manuscript is the version sent to reviewers. It must be fully anonymized and include the following components in order: Abstract (3.1.3), Keywords (3.1.4), main text (Introduction to Conclusions), figures & tables, and the Back Matter (3.3).

3.2.1 Text Formatting

• Manuscripts should be written in American English.
• Use a plain font (e.g., 10-point Times New Roman) for text.
• Use italics for emphasis.
• Remove any strikethrough and underlined text from your manuscript, unless it has scientific significance related to your article.
• Use the automatic page numbering function to number the pages.
• Do not use field functions.
• Do not use paragraph breaks in the title, author list, or abstract.
• Use tab stops or other commands for indents, not the space bar.
• Use the table function, not spreadsheets, to make tables.
• Use the equation editor or MathType for equations.
• Save your file in .DOCX format (MS Word 2007 or higher).

3.2.2 Headings and Structure

Please structure your article into clearly defined and numbered sections using the decimal system of headings (e.g., 1., 1.1., 1.1.1.), with up to three levels of subheadings. Ensure logical paragraphing and avoid excessively long or dense paragraphs.

3.2.3 Anonymization Checklist

Before uploading the Main Manuscript, authors must verify each of the following:

• Remove all author names, affiliations, and email addresses from the text body.
• Replace self-citations with "Anonymous (Year)" or "Author (Year)" and add a note "Blinded for review".
• Remove funding grant numbers; move full disclosure to Title Page or anonymize in Back Matter (see 3.1.7).
• Ensure document file properties (File > Info) contain no author metadata.
• Verify that inserted figures/tables carry no hidden author or institution names in their embedded metadata.

Reminder  Only the anonymized Main Manuscript is sent to reviewers. The Title Page is processed by the editorial office only.

3.3 Back Matter (mandatory structure; order as below)

The Back Matter must appear at the end of the anonymized Main Manuscript, immediately after the Conclusions section (if applicable). It follows the fixed positions 1–12 below; the Appendix (position 10), References (position 11), and Patents (position 12) are themselves parts of this sequence. If an element is not applicable, enter “Not applicable.” or omit it only where these Guidelines permit.

Order	Element	Required?	Notes
1	CRediT Author Statement	Required	Required. Use placeholders (e.g., Author 1, Author 2…) with roles in the anonymized manuscript; full names appear on the Title Page and in proof. See 3.1.5.
2	Data Availability Statement	Required for Original Research; Recommended for Reviews	Use an anonymized repository link during review; replace with the full DOI after acceptance. See 3.8.2.link during review. See 3.1.6 / 3.7.2.
3	Funding	Required if applicable	Can be anonymized during review (remove grant numbers); full funder name and grant number are restored in the published Back Matter after acceptance. See 3.1.7.
4	Conflicts of Interest	Required	Must state "The authors declare no conflicts of interest" if none. See 3.1.8.
5	IRB / Ethics Statement	Required if applicable	Include approval number or waiver justification. See 3.1.9.
6	Informed Consent Statement	Required for human studies	Confirm consent obtained from all subjects. See 3.1.10.
7	Field-Site Access & Community Consent	Required for rural field research	Briefly in Methods using anonymized wording; full community-consent documents as confidential supplementary material. See 3.1.12.
8	Acknowledgments	Optional	Only if it does not reveal identity; otherwise move to Title Page. See 3.1.11.
9	Abbreviations	Recommended	List all acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms used. See 2.3.2.
10	Appendix	Optional	Label Appendix A, Appendix B (or A1, A2…); associated figures/tables as Figure A1, Table A1. Position 10 per 3.3. See 3.10.
11	References	Required	APA 7th edition; alphabetical order. See 3.4.
12	Patents	Optional	State patent status, ownership, and relevance if applicable. Position 12 per 3.3; placed after References. See 3.9.

Note: The order above is fixed to ensure consistency in published articles. The Back Matter must not be uploaded as a separate file. During review, authors may merge elements that are not applicable to save space, provided the remaining order is preserved.

3.4 Citations and References

3.4.1 Reference Style

A&R uses APA style, following the American Psychological Association (APA)'s latest edition of the Publication Manual (7th Edition; 2019). Full guidelines are available at: APA Guidelines (7th Edition).

3.4.2 In-Text Citations

Cite references in the text by name and year in parentheses. For example:

• Single author: (Pulighe, 2023)
• Two authors: (Belletti & Schneider, 2023)
• Three or more authors: (Fan et al., 2023)

3.4.3 Reference List

In the list of references, only works that are cited in the text and have been published or accepted for publication should be included. Unpublished works and personal communications should only be mentioned in the text.

The reference list should include only published, in-press, or formally posted preprint and institutional report items with a stable URL or DOI; non-English items should be kept to a minimum. Preprints may be listed as "[Author(s)]. (Year). Title [Preprint]. Repository name. URL/DOI" and labelled "Preprint"; if the work is subsequently accepted by a journal, cite the journal version in preference. Official institutional and government reports available as webpages may be included, using the format "Agency/Group. (Year). Title of report (Report No. xxx, if available). Publisher or URL". Datasets may be listed as "Author/Group. (Year). Title of data set (Version) [Data set]. Repository. URL/DOI". Do not cite AI chat tools or large language models as factual sources; if AI assistance is to be acknowledged, use the disclosure in Section 2.2.10 rather than a reference entry. Personal websites, blogs, news pages, and search-engine results are not eligible for inclusion. Unpublished manuscripts and personal communications may be cited in the text only and must not appear in the reference list.

References should be listed alphabetically following the last name of the first author. The title of the journal and the title of the book should be italicized. It is recommended that you always include DOIs in your reference list as full DOI links (e.g., https://doi.org/10.59978/ar01010001).

Examples:

• Journal article: Fan, S., Zhu, Y., & Fang, X. (2023). Big food vision and food security in China. Agricultural & Rural Studies, 1(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.59978/ar01010001
• Book: Xu, H., & Zhang, H. (2002). Study on forest biomass model. Yunnan Science and Technology Press.
• A chapter in an edited book: Paniagua, A. (2022). The histories of new (geo)politics of smart villages communities in a global world. A contribution to geographical debate. In S. Patnaik, S. Sen, & S. Ghosh (Eds.), Smart cities and smart communities: Empowering citizens through intelligent technologies (pp. 69–79). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1146-0_4
• Masters' theses or doctoral dissertations: Kabir, J. M. (2016). Factors influencing customer satisfaction at a fast food hamburger chain: The relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty (Publication No. 10169573) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
• Report: National Cancer Institute. (2019). Taking time: Support for people with cancer (NIH Publication No. 18-2059). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/takingtime.pdf
• Preprint: Hampton, S., Rabagliati, H., Sorace, A., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2017). Autism and bilingualism: A qualitative interview study of parents' perspectives and experiences. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/76xfs
• Conference Proceeding: Duckworth, A. L., Quirk, A., Gallop, R., Hoyle, R. H., Kelly, D. R., & Matthews, M. D. (2019). Cognitive and noncognitive predictors of success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 116(47), 23499–23504. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910510116

3.5 Artwork Guidelines

General Requirements

• All figures must be submitted in electronic format.
• Figures should be optimized for clarity while maintaining simplicity in design and file size, ensuring compatibility with both print and digital reproduction.
• The software program used to generate the artwork must be specified (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW).
• Vector graphics: Adobe Illustrator (AI) is the preferred format.
• Halftone images: TIFF format is required.
• MS Office files (excluding PowerPoint presentations) are also acceptable.
• Vector graphics containing embedded fonts must have all typefaces embedded within the file to prevent font substitution during reproduction.

3.5.1 Combination Art

Definition: A composite visual format integrating halftone imagery (e.g., photographs, shaded illustrations) with line art elements, including but not limited to halftone-based content with line drawings, dense textual annotations, or color diagrams.

Technical requirements: Combination artwork must have a minimum resolution of 600 dpi to ensure fidelity in reproduction.

3.5.2 Halftone Art

Definition: Visual content comprising photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, or paintings with fine shading, gradients, or tonal variations.

• If magnification is applied to photographic elements, scale bars must be included directly within the figure to indicate relative size.
• Halftone images must have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.

3.5.3 Line Art

Definition: Monochromatic (black-and-white) graphic elements without shading, including line drawings, technical sketches, or schematic diagrams.

• Avoid faint lines or text; all elements must remain legible when reproduced at their final published dimensions.
• Minimum line width: 0.1 mm (0.3 points).
• Scanned line drawings or bitmap-format line art must have a minimum resolution of 1200 dpi.
• Vector graphics containing embedded fonts must have all typefaces embedded within the file.

3.5.4 Color Art

General principles: Ensure that primary information remains discernible in grayscale (black-and-white) for print versions, as many colors may not reproduce distinctly in monochrome. A simple test is to produce a photocopy to verify contrast and distinguishability.

Format requirements: Color illustrations must be submitted in RGB color mode with 8 bits per channel to preserve color accuracy in digital reproductions.

3.5.5 Figure Lettering

• For lettering, Helvetica or Arial (both sans-serif fonts) are strongly recommended.
• Final-sized artwork must maintain consistent lettering dimensions, typically 2–3 mm (8–12 points).
• Uniform type size is mandatory within an illustration; variations (e.g., 10-point type for axes vs. 18-point for axis labels) are prohibited.
• Decorative effects such as shading or outlined lettering are not permitted.
• Titles or captions must not be embedded within the illustration itself.

3.5.6 Figure Numbering

Figures must be numbered sequentially using Arabic numerals in the order of their first appearance in the text, and cited accordingly.

3.5.7 Figure Captions

Every figure must include a caption comprising a concise title (not displayed on the figure) and a detailed description. The title should pertain to the entire figure and avoid referencing individual panels, other figures/tables, or citations. While minimizing text in images is advised, all symbols and abbreviations used must be defined.

• Captions must begin with the bolded word "Figure" followed by the figure number and a period (e.g., Figure 1.).
• Distinct figure panels (subfigures) must be labeled with lowercase letters in parentheses (e.g., (a), (b)) and described sequentially within the caption.
• All elements within the figure must be explicitly identified in the caption. Coordinate points in graphs should be marked using boxes, circles, or similar symbols.
• For previously published material, a full reference citation must be included at the end of the caption to acknowledge the original source.
• Figures generated or modified using AI tools must state this in the caption and in the Methods AI disclosure (see 2.2.10); synthetic maps must not be presented as surveyed data.

3.5.8 Figure Placement and Size

• Figures should be placed within the text, adjacent to their first citation.
• Large figures may be submitted separately from the main text only if file size constraints prevent uploading them with the manuscript.
• Composite figures (with multiple panels) are permissible only if the components are logically interconnected. All panels must be uniformly scaled to ensure critical details are preserved in print.
• Figures must be sized to align with the column width of the target publication during preparation.

3.5.9 Permissions

Permission from the copyright holder is required for the reproduction of any previously published figure or table, unless the content is covered by an open-access license. Note that publishers may charge fees for electronic rights, which are the responsibility of the author and non-refundable by SCC PRESS.

3.5.10 Accessibility

To ensure accessibility for users with disabilities, the following criteria must be met:

• All figures must include descriptive captions to enable text-to-speech software or text-to-braille hardware to convey content to visually impaired users.
• Information must be conveyed using patterns in addition to (or instead of) color to assist colorblind users in distinguishing visual elements.
• Lettering in figures must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 to meet accessibility standards.

3.6 Tables

• All tables must be cited in the manuscript text and positioned within the main text adjacent to their first mention, following sequential numbering (e.g., Table 1, Table 2).
• Vertical lines, blank rows, or blank columns are strongly discouraged in table formatting.
• A concise caption (title) must accompany each table to clarify its components and purpose.
• Footnotes for tables should be denoted using superscript lowercase letters (or asterisks for significance values/statistical data) and placed beneath the table body.
• Tables should be used judiciously; avoid duplicating data already presented in the text.
• Large or overly complex tables should be avoided, with page size constraints considered during preparation.

3.7 Supplementary Material

A&R accepts supplementary data or information that is relevant and essential to supporting the article, including but not limited to additional graphs, original datasets, or contextual materials. Supplementary material is not subject to editorial revision; authors are responsible for ensuring clarity and conciseness. All supplementary materials will be made available to peer reviewers during the evaluation process.

Authors submitting research datasets as supplementary information must consult the journal's Research Data Policy prior to submission. Whenever possible, research data should be archived in recognized data repositories.

3.7.1 Submission Requirements

• Supplementary materials must be submitted simultaneously with the main article. Non-proprietary, widely compatible file formats are strongly recommended.
• Multiple files may be submitted as a single ZIP or RAR archive.
• Each file must include a concise, descriptive caption and contain the following metadata: article title, journal name, author names, affiliations, and the corresponding author's email address.
• All supplementary files must be cited explicitly in the manuscript text.
• Note that large files may require extended download times, and some users may experience technical difficulties during retrieval.

3.7.2 Video, Audio, and Animation Files

• For each video/audio file, a one-sentence title and a legend (maximum 100 words, no citations) must be provided in a separate editable file.
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 4:3.
• Maximum file size: 2 GB.
• Duration: Minimum 1 second; maximum 5 minutes.
• Supported formats: avi, mov, wmv, mp3, mp4, mpg, mpeg.

3.7.3 Captions

Each supplementary material item relevant to the article's scope and supporting its conclusions must include a descriptive caption explaining the file's content.

3.7.4 Text and Presentation Formats

• Supplementary text and presentation materials must be submitted in .DOCX or .DOC file formats.
• Figures may be combined into a single .PDF file.
• Specialized formats (e.g., .pdb for chemical data, .wrl for VRML, .nb for Mathematica notebooks, .tex) are also acceptable.

3.7.5 Numbering and Naming

• Supplementary figures, schemes, tables, equations, and other elements must be cited with the prefix "S" (e.g., Figure S1, Table S2, Equation S3).
• Files must be named consecutively (e.g., "ESM_1.mpg", "ESM_2.pdf").

3.7.6 Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets must be submitted in .csv or .xlsx file formats (compatible with MS Excel).

3.8 Research Data Policy

A&R's Research Data Policy promotes transparent and responsible data sharing. Unless restricted by ethics, law, or participant confidentiality, all data necessary to interpret and replicate findings should be made available, with restrictions and access conditions explained in a Data Availability Statement (see 3.7.2 below).

3.8.1 Data Fabrication/Falsification

A&R is dedicated to advancing credible, evidence-based research that drives innovation and equity in agriculture, rural development, and related fields. Data fabrication (inventing or falsifying research data) and data falsification (manipulating or altering data to misrepresent results) violate the core principles of scientific integrity, undermine trust in research, and harm the communities we aim to serve. A&R strictly prohibits:

• Data Fabrication: Inventing or creating fictional data, observations, or results that were never generated or measured; falsely claiming to have conducted experiments, surveys, or analyses that were never performed.
• Data Falsification: Manipulating, altering, or omitting authentic data to misrepresent findings; misreporting methodologies.

Manuscripts found to contain fabricated or falsified data will be rejected prior to peer review. If such issues are identified after acceptance or publication, A&R will follow COPE retraction guidelines (see Publication Ethics 4.5).

3.8.2 Data Availability Statement

All original research manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement to clarify the accessibility of data supporting the document. The statement should:

• Specify the source of the data used or generated in the research.
• Provide hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets, where available.

The Data Availability Statement can take one of the following forms (or a combination of more than one if multiple datasets are required):

• The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the [NAME] repository, [PERSISTENT WEB LINK TO DATASETS].
• The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
• All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].
• The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to [REASON(S) WHY DATA ARE NOT PUBLIC]. However, they may be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
• Data sharing does not apply to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed.
• The data supporting this study's findings are available from [THIRD PARTY NAME]. Restrictions apply to these data, which were used under license for the current study and are not publicly available. Data may be available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission from [THIRD PARTY NAME].

Optional additional formats (encouraged but not required):

• Code availability: "The code used to generate results is available in the [NAME] repository, [PERSISTENT WEB LINK]."
• Preregistration: "The study design and analysis plan were preregistered at [URL] (Registration No. XXX)."

A&R encourages authors of Original Research Articles to deposit raw data (e.g., survey datasets, experimental measurements) in a public repository where ethical, legal, and privacy constraints permit.

3.8.3 Data Repositories

A&R strongly encourages authors to deposit datasets in publicly available repositories (where available and appropriate) to enhance transparency and reproducibility. Recommended repositories include:

• General repositories: Figshare, Dryad, Zenodo.
• Discipline-specific repositories: Authors should use field-appropriate repositories (e.g. GenBank for genomic data).

Code scripts (R, Python, Stata, etc.) may be deposited in the same general repositories or in domain-specific code platforms (e.g., GitHub, with a permanent DOI via Zenodo integration).

3.8.4 Data Citation

Dataset citations should follow APA 7th edition data-set format and include, where available, the creator, year, title in italics, [Data set] descriptor, repository/publisher, and persistent identifier (DOI/Handle) as a full link. Example: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of data set (Version) [Data set]. Repository Name. https://doi.org/xxxx

3.8.5 Data and Peer Review

To uphold research integrity, A&R encourages peer reviewers to:

• Evaluate the Data Availability Statement for compliance with journal policy.
• Assess whether the data supporting the findings are sufficiently accessible for replication or reuse.
• Request access to underlying data during review, if necessary.

Authors should ensure data are available to reviewers upon request, even if public sharing is restricted.

3.8.6 Preregistration

A&R encourages preregistration of study designs, hypotheses, and analysis plans for observational and experimental studies. Recommended platforms include OSF, EGAP, and the Registry of EGM. Authors should cite the preregistration DOI in the manuscript and report any deviations from the preregistered plan in the Discussion. Preregistered studies will be prioritized for expedited review.

3.9 Patents

Optional. If applicable, state the patent status, ownership, and relevance of any intellectual property pertaining to the research. In the published Back Matter, Patents follow References as position 12 (Section 3.3); do not place patent details before References.

• Patent status: Grant, pending, or provisional status (e.g., "US Patent Application No. XXXXXXX filed YYYY-MM-DD").
• Ownership attribution: Institutional or collaborative ownership, inventorship details, and relevant licensing agreements.
• Relevance to the manuscript: Explanation of how the disclosed patents directly relate to the research findings or methodologies presented.

3.10 Appendix

Optional. The Appendix is part of the Back Matter and must be placed after Abbreviations and before References (position 10 per Section 3.3). Label supplementary material as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc. (or A1, A2…), and any associated figures/tables as Figure A1, Table A1, etc.

All appendix sections must be cited in the main text. In the appendices, figures, tables, etc. should be labeled starting with "A"—e.g., Figure A1, Figure A2, etc.

3.11 Cover Letter

A cover letter must accompany each manuscript submission, concisely explaining the paper's significance, situating the findings in the context of existing work, and discussing how the paper fits within A&R's scope.

Do not simply insert your abstract into your cover letter! Briefly describe the research you are reporting in your paper, why it is important, and why you think the readership of A&R would be interested in it.

We ask authors to acknowledge any previous manuscript submissions to A&R by providing the previous manuscript ID; this will facilitate your current submission process. Proposing or excluding reviewers may be included in the Cover Letter or commented on within the submission system—either method is acceptable.

A well-written cover letter should include the following statements:

• Confirmation that the manuscript is original research and has not been previously published or is under consideration by another journal.
• Confirmation that the manuscript and its authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. All authors should have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to A&R.
• Up-to-date contact information for the corresponding author and all coauthors.

If generative AI tools were used, a brief disclosure in the cover letter is recommended (see also Section 2.2.10).

4. After Acceptance

The following policies apply after your manuscript has been accepted for publication. For a detailed step-by-step workflow, please see our Roadmap to Publication.

4.1 Copyright and License

A&R publishes all articles under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright and grant A&R the right of first publication. Under CC BY 4.0, others may distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work (even commercially) provided proper credit is given. Full license terms are available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

4.2 Proofs

Corresponding authors will receive page proofs via email. Proof review is limited to correction of typographical or factual errors, verification of author names/affiliations, and confirmation of figure/table placement. No substantive changes to the text, data, or authorship are permitted at this stage. Authors must return corrections within 48 hours; failure to respond may delay publication.

4.3 Publication Timeline

Accepted articles are typically published online as Articles in Press (Online First) within 2–3 weeks of final acceptance, prior to inclusion in a scheduled issue.

4.4 Article Sharing

Under the CC BY license, authors may share the published article immediately upon publication on personal websites, institutional repositories, and academic social networks. When sharing, please always include the full citation and DOI link to the published version.

4.5 Corrections, Retractions, and Appeals

A&R follows COPE guidelines for all post-publication updates and editorial decisions. Full policies are available in our Publication Ethics document (Sections 4 and 5). Key points:

Corrections and Retractions are distinguished as follows:

• Corrigendum — for errors introduced by the authors (e.g., author list, affiliations, funding, acknowledgements).
• Erratum — for errors introduced by the publisher during production (e.g., typesetting, formatting).
• Retraction — for serious ethical breaches (data fabrication, plagiarism, duplicate publication); follows COPE retraction guidelines.

For correction request procedures and retraction criteria, see Publication Ethics 4.

Appeals against editorial decisions may be submitted within 30 days and are reviewed by an independent editorial board member (see Publication Ethics 5.1).

Complaints regarding any aspect of the publication process may also be submitted (see Publication Ethics 5.2).

Requests for corrections, retractions, appeals, or complaints should be sent to the Editorial Office at ruizhang@sccpress.com.