Generative AI Policy

Policy on Use of AI Tools

1. Introduction

AgroTatanen Journal recognizes the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including generative AI and AI-assisted technologies, in scholarly writing and publishing. AI technologies may assist authors in improving language, organizing manuscripts, processing information, and performing certain technical tasks. However, their use must be managed responsibly to uphold the following principles:

  • Academic integrity and originality;

  • Transparency and accountability;

  • Confidentiality in the peer-review process;

  • Protection of privacy, intellectual property, and the rights of others; and

  • Accuracy of research data, results, and scientific interpretations.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff throughout manuscript preparation, peer review, and publication management at AgroTatanen Journal.

The use of AI must ensure that humans remain responsible for critical reasoning, scientific judgment, data validation, and research conclusions.

2. Definition of AI Technologies

For the purposes of this policy, AI technologies refer to digital systems, platforms, or software that use artificial intelligence techniques to generate, analyze, translate, summarize, or modify text, numerical data, images, audio, or other information in scholarly activities.

Examples of AI technologies include, but are not limited to:

  • Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other large language models;

  • Writing and language-checking tools, such as Grammarly and DeepL Write;

  • AI-assisted tools for data processing, programming, statistical analysis, and visualization; and

  • AI tools for literature searching, research mapping, and reference management.

This list is not exhaustive and may include other technologies with similar functions.

3. Permitted Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools provided that they retain full responsibility for the content of their manuscripts and comply with the following requirements.

a. Permitted Uses Without Mandatory Disclosure

Disclosure is not required for basic language assistance that does not alter the scholarly meaning of the manuscript, including:

  • Grammar, spelling, and punctuation checking;

  • Minor improvements to readability and language fluency without changing the intended meaning; and

  • Reference formatting and citation-style adjustments.

b. Permitted Uses Requiring Disclosure

Disclosure is required when AI is used beyond basic language editing, including:

  • Substantive rewriting, restructuring, or summarization of manuscript content;

  • Translation assistance beyond minor language polishing;

  • Assistance with programming, data cleaning, statistical analysis, modeling, or research data processing, provided that all outputs are verified and can be justified and reproduced where applicable; and

  • Literature mapping or idea generation, provided that all claims and references are independently verified by the authors.

The use of AI in research involving agrotechnology, soil science, agronomy, crop cultivation, plant protection, agribusiness, and related agricultural fields must be adequately described when it contributes to research methods, analysis, or interpretation.

c. Restricted and Prohibited Uses

AI must not be used to:

  • Generate an entire manuscript or substantial portions of scholarly work as a substitute for the authors' original analysis, reasoning, and interpretation;

  • Fabricate, falsify, or manipulate research data, results, images, tables, or scientific findings;

  • Generate citations or references without verifying their existence and accuracy;

  • Summarize or paraphrase published scholarly works in a manner that constitutes plagiarism; or

  • Produce content that infringes copyright or uses identifiable third-party materials without the necessary permission.

4. Use of AI for Scientific Images, Photographs, and Illustrations

AgroTatanen Journal does not permit the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images, photographs, or illustrations presented as research evidence or research results in submitted manuscripts.

This restriction includes adding, removing, moving, obscuring, or modifying specific features in images or illustrations in ways that may affect scientific interpretation.

Adjustments to brightness, contrast, and color balance may be permitted, provided that they do not remove, obscure, or alter information contained in the original images.

Methods-based exception: The use of AI to generate or analyze images may be considered when it is explicitly part of the research design and methodology. Such use must be transparently and reproducibly described in the Methods section, including the name and version of the model or tool, the provider, and the procedures used. Editors may request raw images or supporting data for further assessment.

The use of generative AI to produce illustrations, diagrams, or graphical abstracts accompanying a manuscript is not permitted, unless the use constitutes a scientifically justified component of the research methodology. The use of AI for journal cover artwork may be considered only with prior editorial approval and provided that all copyright and attribution requirements are met.

5. AI Screening and Manuscript Integrity

AgroTatanen Journal may use text-similarity checking and AI-writing detection tools as part of its editorial assessment. Automated screening results will not be used as the sole basis for determining whether an ethical violation has occurred.

If screening results indicate potential inappropriate AI use, the editor may request clarification, an AI-use declaration, or revisions from the authors.

AI screening thresholds: Any threshold for AI-detection results and the corresponding actions will be established by the AgroTatanen Journal management in accordance with its editorial policies. AI-detection percentages must not be treated as conclusive evidence of an ethical violation.

6. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors are fully responsible for all content submitted for publication, including material drafted, revised, translated, or analyzed with AI assistance.

Authors must:

  • Verify the accuracy, originality, and reliability of all AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs;

  • Ensure that the manuscript contains no plagiarism, unaddressed bias, factual errors, or fabricated references;

  • Ensure that all external sources, data, and third-party materials are properly cited and attributed;

  • Retain the ability to explain their contributions, methods, interpretations, and scientific judgments; and

  • Accept full responsibility for any errors, omissions, or ethical violations associated with the use of AI.

7. Authorship and AI

AI technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors and cannot assume scientific or ethical responsibility for a publication.

Authorship is reserved for human contributors who meet the applicable authorship criteria, approve the final manuscript, and accept responsibility for its content and integrity.

Listing AI as an author, co-author, or authorship contributor is prohibited and may constitute grounds for editorial action in accordance with the journal's policies.

8. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Intellectual Property Rights

Before using AI tools, authors must ensure that the tools' terms of use adequately protect privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, and the rights of others.

Authors must not upload confidential research data, personally identifiable information, protected data, or materials subject to restricted-use conditions to third-party AI tools unless there is an appropriate legal basis and adequate protection.

9. Disclosure Requirements for AI Use

The use of AI beyond basic grammar, spelling, punctuation checking, and language editing must be disclosed transparently.

The disclosure statement must include, at a minimum:

  • The name of the AI tool or model, its version where available, and its provider;

  • The purpose and scope of its use;

  • Confirmation that all AI-assisted outputs have been reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors; and

  • Confirmation that the authors accept full responsibility for the content and integrity of the manuscript.

Placement of the AI-use disclosure:

  • Methods section: When AI is used for data analysis, programming, modeling, or image generation or analysis as part of the research methodology.

  • Acknowledgements section: When AI is used for substantive writing assistance, translation, or manuscript restructuring.

  • Dedicated section: Authors are encouraged to include a subsection entitled “Declaration of AI Tool Usage” before the References.

Example declaration:

“During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [AI tool/model name, version, and provider] for [purpose and scope of use]. All AI-assisted outputs were critically reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance with academic standards. The authors take full responsibility for the content, accuracy, and integrity of this manuscript.”

Authors must adapt this statement to reflect the actual use of AI in their work.

10. Policy for Reviewers

The peer-review process is based on human judgment, scientific expertise, and confidentiality.

Reviewers must:

  • Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts under review;

  • Not upload manuscripts under review, or any part thereof, to generative AI tools;

  • Not upload peer-review reports, evaluation forms, or editorial correspondence to AI tools for any purpose, including language editing; and

  • Not use generative AI as a substitute for scientific assessment or to generate peer-review conclusions.

Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, objectivity, and content of the reports they submit to the editor.

11. Policy for Editors and Editorial Staff

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, editorial notes, peer-review reports, and communications related to publication decisions.

Editors and editorial staff must not upload manuscripts, decision letters, or confidential correspondence related to the editorial process to generative AI tools, including for language editing.

Generative AI must not be used to replace editorial judgment or serve as the basis for decisions regarding manuscript acceptance, rejection, or revision.

Editors remain fully responsible for the editorial process, publication decisions, and communications with authors and reviewers.

12. Editorial Oversight and Peer Review

Editors and reviewers may consider AI-use disclosures as part of the ethical, methodological, and research-integrity assessment of a manuscript.

AgroTatanen Journal may conduct text-similarity checks, reference verification, and other relevant screening procedures to support editorial assessment. Automated screening results must be reviewed by humans and must not serve as the sole basis for determining a violation.

If undisclosed or inappropriate AI use is suspected, the editorial office may:

  • Request clarification or an additional disclosure statement from the authors;

  • Request revisions or relevant supporting documentation;

  • Reject the manuscript if a violation is established or the journal's requirements are not met; or

  • Refer the case to the authors' institution or initiate an ethics review when serious misconduct is suspected.

13. Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

  • Rejection of the manuscript at any stage of the editorial process;

  • Correction or retraction of a published article when a violation provides sufficient grounds for such action;

  • Notification of the author's institution when serious ethical misconduct is suspected; or

  • Restrictions on future submissions in cases of severe or repeated misuse, in accordance with the journal's policies and procedures.

Any action must take into account the available evidence, the severity of the violation, and the authors' opportunity to provide clarification.

14. Appeals and Dispute Resolution

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision concerning AI use may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief.

The appeal must explain the grounds for the objection, provide supporting evidence, and refer to the relevant provisions of this policy. Appeals will be reviewed in accordance with the journal's applicable editorial ethics procedures.

15. Policy Updates and Author Guidance

This policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect developments in AI technology, scholarly publishing practices, and publication ethics standards.

Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff are expected to read this policy before participating in the publication process at AgroTatanen Journal. If there is uncertainty regarding the acceptability of a particular use of AI, the relevant party is encouraged to contact the journal management before proceeding.

16. Ethical Framework and References

This policy is based on the principles of academic integrity, transparency, authorship accountability, peer-review confidentiality, and intellectual property protection.