Dear Authors and Readers,
To further enhance the discoverability, accessibility, and interdisciplinary reach of research published in Agricultural & Rural Studies (A&R, ISSN 2959-9784), the Editorial Board is pleased to announce a new submission requirement:
From 1 January 2027, all new submissions of Original Research Articles and Review Articles must include a Graphical Abstract and Highlights as mandatory components.
Complimentary Design Support for the First Year
To help authors transition smoothly to this new requirement, the Editorial Office will provide free Graphical Abstract design assistance throughout 2027 — the first full year of implementation. A dedicated in-house designer has been assigned to work directly with authors on accepted manuscripts to produce a publication-ready Graphical Abstract at no cost.
How it works:
- Authors submit a brief concept, rough sketch, or key visual idea (along with their accepted manuscript) to the Editorial Office.
- Our designer will create a professionally formatted Graphical Abstract compliant with A&R technical specifications (portrait, ≥ 560 × 1100 px, ≥ 300 dpi, RGB, ≤ 60 words).
- Authors review and approve the final version before publication.
- This service is available exclusively for Original Research and Review articles accepted during the 2027 calendar year.
We hope this support measure encourages early adoption and removes any technical or resource barriers during the transition period.
Transition Arrangements
To ensure a smooth transition, the following phased approach applies:
- Before 1 January 2027 — Authors are encouraged to voluntarily include a Graphical Abstract and Highlights. Submissions with these elements will be given priority in production scheduling.
- During 2027 (first implementation year) — All new Original Research and Review submissions must indicate a Graphical Abstract and Highlights at submission. However, manuscripts accepted during 2027 that lack a production-ready GA will not be rejected or returned on this ground; instead, the assigned Editorial Designer will work with the corresponding author to create one free of charge (see "Complimentary Design Support" above). Authors remain responsible for providing Highlights at revision or acceptance stage.
- From 1 January 2028 onward — Submissions of Original Research and Review articles that lack both a Graphical Abstract and Highlights at the time of initial submission will be returned to authors for completion before peer review.
Why We Are Doing This
- Graphical Abstracts provide a visual summary of your core findings or conceptual framework, enabling readers — including policymakers, interdisciplinary scholars, and non-specialist audiences — to grasp your work at a glance.
- Highlights distil your article's key contributions into 3–5 concise bullet points, improving indexing visibility and social media shareability.
- As a fully digital, open-access journal, A&R is committed to maximising the impact and reach of agricultural and rural research. These elements directly support that mission.
Technical Requirements at a Glance
- Graphical Abstract: Portrait orientation, minimum 560 × 1100 px, ≥ 300 dpi, PNG preferred, RGB colour mode, ≤ 60 words of image text, no author/institution identifiers (to preserve double-blind review anonymity).
- Highlights: 3–5 bullets, ≤ 85 characters per bullet (including spaces and punctuation), present tense, no citations (e.g., no "Smith et al., 2021"), semicolon-separated clauses ending with a period or semicolon.
Where to Find Full Guidelines
Detailed formatting instructions, examples, and submission checklist are available in the updated Author Guidelines, Section 3.0.1 (Graphical Abstract and Highlights), effective from the 2027 edition.
We thank our author community for your continued support in advancing open, accessible scholarship in agricultural and rural studies.
Sincerely,
The Editorial Board