Editorial Policies

Focus and Scope

SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis (E-ISSN: 2654-6817) is an international peer-reviewed journal focusing on the socio-economic dimensions of agrifood systems transformation, inclusive agribusiness, and rural development in tropical developing and emerging economies. The journal advances scholarly understanding of how farmers, agribusiness enterprises, markets, institutions, and public policies interact in shaping sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems.

SEPA places particular emphasis on the distinctive socio-economic and environmental conditions of tropical regions, including smallholder-dominated agriculture, tropical agricultural commodities, rural livelihoods, and climate-related challenges. The journal welcomes empirical, theoretical, comparative, and interdisciplinary research that moves beyond purely local descriptions and connects its findings to broader theoretical, regional, or global debates in agricultural socio-economics and agribusiness.

The scope of SEPA includes, but is not limited to:

1. Tropical Agrifood Systems and Sustainable Transformation: economic and institutional dimensions of sustainable production, climate adaptation, environmental standards and certification, and structural change in tropical agrifood systems. 
2. Smallholders, Inclusive Agribusiness, and Rural Livelihoods: market participation of smallholders, women, and youth; farmer entrepreneurship; income diversification; and food security.
3. Agricultural Value Chains, Markets, Trade, and Consumer Behaviour: contract farming, cooperatives and producer organisations, chain coordination, price transmission and volatility, export competitiveness, and consumer preferences for agrifood products.
4. Agribusiness Enterprises, Innovation, and Digital Agriculture: strategy, performance, and risk management of agrifood firms, SMEs, and agroindustries; value addition; agricultural finance; and the adoption and impacts of digital and technological innovations.
5. Agricultural Policy, Institutions, and Agrifood Governance: agricultural, trade, and input policies; land and property institutions; extension and advisory systems; and public–private governance of agrifood systems.

Manuscripts limited to stand-alone feasibility analyses, single-enterprise operational case studies, or purely descriptive or technical studies without socio-economic analysis are generally outside the scope of SEPA.

 

Section Policies

Articles

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed
 

Peer Review Process

1. Introduction

SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis is committed to upholding the highest standards of scholarly publishing. A cornerstone of this commitment is our rigorous peer review process, designed to ensure the quality, validity, originality, significance, and clarity of the articles we publish. This policy outlines peer review model, the roles and responsibilities of all participants, and the procedures followed. SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis employs a double-blind peer review model, where the identities of both the authors and the reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the review process. This approach aims to ensure impartiality and objectivity in the assessment of manuscripts. We adhere to the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

2. Description

  • Peer Review: The critical assessment of manuscripts submitted to a journal by experts in the relevant field who are not part of the journal's editorial staff. Its primary purpose is to provide editors with the information needed to make an informed decision on publication and to help authors improve their work.
  • Double-Blind Peer Review: In this model, SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis ensures that:
    • Authors do not know the identity of their reviewers.
    • Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors. This method is employed to minimize potential bias related to factors such as author reputation, affiliation, nationality, or gender, allowing the manuscript to be judged solely on its scholarly merit.
  • Role of Reviewers: To provide expert, constructive, and unbiased feedback on the scientific content and presentation of the manuscript.
  • Role of Editors: To manage the peer review process, select appropriate reviewers (including vetting any author suggestions), evaluate reviewer feedback, and make final editorial decisions.

3. Policy

  • Mandate for Peer Review: All scholarly contributions submitted to SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis, including research articles, technical papers, conceptual papers, and case study reports, undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process before any decision regarding publication is made. Certain submission types, such as editorials, invited commentaries, or book reviews, may undergo a different editorial assessment process, which will be clearly communicated.
  • Peer Review Model: SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis exclusively uses a double-blind peer review model for all eligible submissions.
  • Selection of Reviewers:
    • Reviewers are selected by the handling editor based on their demonstrable expertise in the manuscript's subject area, their scholarly reputation, their availability, and their ability to provide an objective, critical, and constructive assessment.
    • Reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest with the authors or the research before agreeing to review and must decline if a significant conflict exists.
    • SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis typically aims to obtain at least two independent peer review reports for each manuscript undergoing full review.
    • Author-Suggested Reviewers: SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis allows authors the option to suggest potential reviewers for their manuscript during the submission process. While suggestions are welcome, the final decision on reviewer selection rests solely with the handling editor, who will verify the suitability and credentials of any suggested reviewer and ensure there are no conflicts of interest. Suggested reviewers will be considered alongside editor-selected reviewers.
      • Conditions for Suggested Reviewers: If authors choose to suggest reviewers, the following conditions apply:
        • A maximum of five (5) names may be suggested.
        • At least two-thirds (⅔) of the suggested reviewers (e.g., at least 3 or 4 out of 5) must be non-Indonesian citizens or researchers affiliated with institutions outside of Indonesia.
        • Prospective reviewers must possess a Scopus ID with a minimum h-index of 5.
        • They must have an active publication record in Scopus or Web of Science (WoS) indexed journals, with relevant publications within at least the last three years.
        • Suggested reviewers must be willing to volunteer their time, as Journal does not offer payment for peer review services.
        • They must permit their name to be displayed on Journal's website (e.g., in an annual list acknowledging reviewers), should SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis implement such a practice.
        • Authors must provide the full name, current affiliation, and official institutional email address for each suggested reviewer. Personal email addresses (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) are not acceptable for official communication regarding reviews.
        • Suggested reviewers must not have any close professional or personal connections to the authors that could lead to a biased review.
  • Confidentiality in Peer Review:
    • All manuscript materials, including the manuscript itself, reviewer reports, and all related correspondence, are treated as strictly confidential by editors, reviewers, and journal staff.
    • Reviewers must not disclose any information about the manuscript or its review to any third party without prior permission from the journal.
    • Information obtained during the peer review process must not be used for the reviewer's personal advantage or to disadvantage or discredit others.
  • Objectivity, Constructiveness, and Timeliness:
    • Reviewers are expected to conduct their reviews objectively and provide unbiased, specific, and constructive feedback aimed at improving the manuscript.
    • All comments should be professional and courteous, focusing on the scholarly content rather than making personal criticisms of the authors.
    • Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the timeframe stipulated by the journal to ensure timely feedback to authors.
  • Copyright of Review Reports:
    • Peer reviewers who submit review reports to SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis retain the copyright of their review reports.
    • SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis will treat review reports as confidential communications. Anonymized review reports will be shared with the authors of the manuscript. SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis will not publish reviewer reports or disclose reviewers' identities to authors or third parties without obtaining explicit permission from the respective reviewers, except as required by legal processes or in investigations of misconduct.
  • Editorial Decision-Making:
    • The final decision regarding manuscript publication (acceptance, rejection, or request for revision) rests with the Editor-in-Chief or a designated handling editor.
    • This decision is based on the evaluation of the reviewer reports, the editor's own assessment of the manuscript's quality and suitability for SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis, and its adherence to the journal's scope and ethical standards.
    • Editorial decisions are made independently and are based solely on the scholarly merit of the work.
  • Appeals Process:
    • Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe there has been a significant misunderstanding, a procedural flaw, or evidence of bias in the review process, as detailed in Journal's "Policy on Complaints and Appeals".
  • Guidance and Ethical Conduct for Reviewers:
    • SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis provides clear guidelines to its peer reviewers regarding their role, responsibilities, how to conduct a review, and ethical expectations, drawing from the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.
    • Reviewers are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines, including maintaining confidentiality, declaring conflicts of interest, and reporting any suspected misconduct.
  • Management of the Peer Review Process:
    • SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis employs a robust online editorial management system to ensure an efficient, fair, and transparent peer review process. This system helps track manuscript progress, manage reviewer assignments, and maintain records.

4. Technicalities to Achieve and Materialise the Policies

  • Manuscript Preparation for Double-Blind Review:
    • Authors are responsible for preparing their manuscripts in a way that conceals their identities from reviewers. Specific instructions include:
      • Submitting a separate title page containing author names, affiliations, contact information, and any acknowledgments. This page is not sent to reviewers.
      • Ensuring the main manuscript file (including figures, tables, and supplementary materials intended for review) is anonymized. This means removing all author names, affiliations, and any direct references to the authors' prior work if phrased in a self-identifying manner (e.g., use third-person phrasing like "Previous studies have shown [citation]" rather than "Our previous work showed [citation]").
      • Removing identifying information from the properties of the electronic file.
    • SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis provides detailed instructions for authors on how to anonymize their manuscripts in its "Author Guidelines" and "Manuscript Preparation Guidelines."
  • Reviewer Anonymity:
    • The journal's editorial management system is configured to ensure that reviewers' identities are not revealed to authors.
    • Reviewers are explicitly instructed not to include any information in their review reports or in their comments intended for authors that could reveal their identity.
  • Invitation to Review and Handling of Author Suggestions:
    • Potential reviewers are invited by the handling editor based on their expertise. The invitation includes the manuscript's abstract and clear instructions, including the deadline for the review.
    • Reviewers are required to assess for any potential conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation and must decline if a significant conflict exists.
    • If authors provide reviewer suggestions in their cover letter or via the submission system, the handling editor will assess these suggestions. Suggested reviewers will be vetted against Journal's criteria (expertise, h-index, publication record, institutional email, absence of COI with authors, etc.). The editor may or may not choose to use author-suggested reviewers and is not obliged to provide reasons for their decision. The editor will also independently identify and invite other reviewers.
  • Conducting and Submitting the Review:
    • Reviewers are provided with guidelines and often a structured review form to aid their assessment. They evaluate the manuscript based on criteria such as originality, significance of contribution, methodological soundness, clarity of presentation, and adherence to ethical standards.
    • Reviews should include specific comments and suggestions for the authors to improve their manuscript, as well as confidential comments for the editor to aid in the decision-making process.
    • Reviewers are encouraged to alert the editor to any suspected ethical issues, such as plagiarism, data fabrication/falsification, or redundant publication.
    • All review reports must be submitted through the journal's online editorial system by the agreed-upon deadline.
  • Communication of Editorial Decisions:
    • The handling editor carefully considers all reviewer reports (and may seek additional reviews if necessary) before making an editorial decision.
    • Authors are provided with the anonymized reviewer comments and the editor's decision letter, which explains the basis for the decision.
  • Manuscript Revisions:
    • If revisions are requested, authors are expected to address all comments from the reviewers and editor in a thorough and systematic manner. A point-by-point response to the comments should accompany the resubmitted manuscript.
    • Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for re-evaluation, or assessed by the editor, depending on the extent of the revisions.
  • Ethical Obligations for Reviewers: SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis expects all reviewers to adhere to high ethical standards, including:
    • Confidentiality: Treat the manuscript and review process as confidential.
    • Objectivity: Provide an unbiased and impartial assessment.
    • Expertise: Only agree to review manuscripts for which they have sufficient expertise.
    • Timeliness: Submit reviews by the agreed deadline.
    • Constructiveness: Frame feedback constructively to help authors improve their work.
    • Non-Exploitation: Do not use information from the manuscript for personal or third-party advantage.
    • Disclosure of Conflicts: Declare all potential conflicts of interest.
    • Reporting Concerns: Alert the editor to any ethical concerns regarding the manuscript or the review process.
    • No Delegation: Do not pass on a manuscript to another person for review without first obtaining permission from the journal.
  • Recognition of Reviewers:
    • SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis values the critical contribution of its peer reviewers. While individual anonymity is maintained in the double-blind process, the journal may publicly acknowledge its reviewers annually (e.g., through a list on its website or in an issue) for their service, with their explicit consent (as indicated by reviewers, including those suggested by authors). SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis may also explore integration with services that provide formal recognition for peer review activities.

This Peer Review Processes policy is designed to ensure a high standard of quality, fairness, and integrity for all articles published in SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis

 

Publication Frequency

SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis is published twice a year in September and February.

 

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

 

Archiving

This journal utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration. More...

 

Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. The journal follows the Core Practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing to ensure the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the scholarly publishing process.

1. Allegations of Misconduct
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis has a well-defined process for handling allegations of misconduct, regardless of how they are brought to the journal's attention. The journal takes all allegations seriously and is committed to investigating and addressing them promptly and appropriately. This includes addressing allegations from whistleblowers.

2. Authorship and Contributorship
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis requires clear policies on authorship and contributorship, ensuring transparency around who contributed to the work and in what capacity. The journal manages potential authorship disputes promptly and fairly.

3. Complaints and Appeals
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis has a clearly described process for handling complaints against the journal, its staff, editorial board, or publisher. The journal treats all complaints seriously and endeavors to resolve them in a fair and impartial manner.

4. Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis provides clear definitions of conflicts of interest and has established processes for handling conflicts of interest for authors, reviewers, editors, journals, and publishers. The journal ensures that any conflicts of interest are disclosed and managed appropriately.

5. Data and Reproducibility
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis includes policies on data availability and encourages the use of reporting guidelines and the registration of clinical trials and other study designs as per standard practice in their respective disciplines. The journal promotes transparency and reproducibility of research.

6. Ethical Oversight
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis maintains ethical oversight by implementing policies on consent to publication, publication on vulnerable populations, ethical conduct of research using animals, ethical conduct of research using human subjects, handling confidential data, and ethical business/marketing practices.

7. Intellectual Property
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis has clear policies on intellectual property, copyright, and publishing licenses, which are described to authors. The journal ensures that authors are aware of the policies on prepublication and what constitutes plagiarism and redundant/overlapping publication.

8. Journal Management
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis  ensures a structured infrastructure, transparent policies, and open-access publication. The journal uses Turnitin for plagiarism checks, Grammarly for proofreading, and suggests Mendeley, EndNote, or Zotero for reference management. The website is secured with HTTPS and an SSL certificate, ensuring safe submission and publication processes. Regular updates are conducted to maintain alignment with industry standards.

9. Peer Review Processes
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis implements a double-blind peer-review process, where the identities of authors and reviewers are kept anonymous. The journal assigns a minimum of two reviewers, with the option to assign more if needed, to ensure thorough and unbiased evaluations of manuscripts.

10. Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis allows post-publication discussions through letters to the editor, on-site debates, or external moderated platforms. The journal has mechanisms in place for correcting, revising, or retracting articles after publication, as necessary.

11. Open Access Policy
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis follows an open access policy, allowing free and unrestricted access to its published articles. The journal applies the  Creative Commons Attribution License to ensure authors' rights and non-commercial sharing and adaptation of the content.

 

Plagiarism Policy

SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis does not tolerate plagiarism in any form. All submitted manuscripts are screened for similarity by the Editorial Board using Turnitin before peer review, and may be re-checked after revision and before publication. The maximum acceptable overall similarity index is 20%, and no single source may exceed 5%, excluding the reference list and properly quoted material.

Forms of plagiarism. For the purposes of this policy, plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Direct (verbatim) plagiarism: copying text from another source word for word without quotation marks and citation.
  2. Paraphrasing plagiarism: rewording another author's text, ideas, or arguments without proper attribution.
  3. Mosaic plagiarism (patchwriting): combining phrases or sentences from multiple sources into new text without proper attribution.
  4. Plagiarism of ideas, data, figures, or tables: using another person's ideas, research design, data, figures, tables, or images without permission and/or attribution.
  5. Translation plagiarism: translating another author's work, published in any language, and presenting it as original without attribution.
  6. Self-plagiarism (text recycling): reusing substantial portions of the author's own previously published work without citation.
  7. Duplicate or redundant publication: submitting a manuscript that has been published or is under review elsewhere, in any language, or presenting essentially the same data and findings in more than one publication.

Manuscripts derived from the author's own undergraduate thesis, master's thesis, or dissertation are acceptable, provided the source is acknowledged. Overlap with such unpublished academic work is assessed by the editor and is not in itself considered plagiarism.

Handling of plagiarism. The similarity index serves as a screening tool only. The final judgment on whether plagiarism has occurred rests with the editor, who examines the nature, extent, and location of the overlapping text.

  • Before peer review: Manuscripts exceeding the similarity thresholds above are returned to the authors for revision before being considered further. Manuscripts showing clear evidence of deliberate plagiarism, duplicate submission, or redundant publication are rejected without review.
  • During peer review or after acceptance: If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be rejected regardless of its stage in the review process.
  • After publication: If plagiarism is identified in a published article, the journal will investigate in accordance with COPE guidelines. Depending on severity, this may result in a correction or retraction of the article. A retracted article remains online, clearly marked as retracted, with a retraction notice explaining the reason. The editor may also inform the authors' institution(s), and the authors may be barred from submitting to SEPA for a period determined by the Editorial Board.

 

Policy on Use of AI Tools

1. Introduction
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis recognizes the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including generative AI and AI-assisted technologies, in scholarly publishing. AI tools can support authors in improving language clarity, organizing content, and assisting technical tasks. However, their use must be carefully managed to uphold:

  • academic integrity and originality
  • transparency and accountability
  • confidentiality in peer review
  • privacy, intellectual property, and other rights

This policy applies to AI tool use by authors, reviewers, and editors/editorial staff throughout manuscript preparation, peer review, and editorial handling.

This policy aligns with widely adopted international publishing expectations and publication-ethics guidance, including the need for human oversight, disclosure when applicable, and safeguards for confidentiality and rights. AI tools must not be used as a substitute for human critical thinking and expert judgment.

2. Definition of AI Tools
For the purposes of this policy, AI tools refer to digital systems, platforms, or software that use artificial intelligence techniques (for example machine learning, natural language processing, or deep learning) to generate, analyze, translate, summarize, or modify textual, numerical, visual, or audio data in a scholarly context.

Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs)
  • Writing and grammar tools such as Grammarly, DeepL Write, and QuillBot
  • AI-assisted data analysis, coding, and visualization tools
  • AI-assisted literature discovery and citation tools

3. Acceptable Use of AI Tools (Authors)
Authors may use AI tools only if they maintain full responsibility for the manuscript content and comply with the requirements below.

a. Permissible Uses (no disclosure required)
Disclosure is not required for basic language assistance that does not change the scholarly meaning, such as:

  • grammar checking, spelling, and punctuation correction
  • minor improvements to readability and language fluency without changing meaning
  • reference formatting and citation style formatting

b. Permissible Uses (disclosure required)
Disclosure is required if AI tools are used beyond basic language assistance, including:

  • substantive rewriting, restructuring, or summarization of the manuscript text
  • translation support beyond minor language polishing
  • supporting coding, data cleaning, statistical analysis, or modeling, provided all outputs are verified and reproducible
  • literature mapping or idea generation, provided all claims and all cited sources are independently verified by the authors

c. Restricted and Prohibited Uses
AI tools must not be used to:

  • generate an entire manuscript or substantial portions of original scholarly content in place of the authors’ own analysis and interpretation
  • fabricate, falsify, or manipulate data, results, images, or findings
  • produce citations or references without verifying that each source exists and is accurately represented
  • summarize or rephrase published works in a way that constitutes plagiarism
  • create content that infringes copyright or reproduces identifiable third-party materials without permission

d. Images, Figures, and Artwork
SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis does not permit the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images in submitted manuscripts. This includes enhancing, obscuring, moving, removing, or introducing a specific feature within an image or figure.

Adjustments of brightness, contrast, or color balance are acceptable only if they do not obscure or eliminate information present in the original.

Exception (methods-based use): If AI-assisted image generation or interpretation is part of the research design or methods, this use must be described in a reproducible manner in the Methods section, including the tool/model name, version, provider, and how outputs were produced. Authors may be asked to provide pre-adjusted images or raw images for editorial assessment.

The use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in the production of artwork (for example graphical abstracts) is not permitted. Cover art may be considered only with prior permission from the Editor and with clear evidence that all necessary rights have been cleared, plus correct attribution.

e. Turnitin AI writing detection threshold
Maximum Turnitin result on AI writing detection: 25%. Authors are required to adjust their manuscripts should the results be more than 20%.

4. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors are solely responsible for all content submitted to the journal, including any content created or modified using AI tools. Authors must:

  • verify the accuracy, originality, and reliability of all AI-assisted content (including checking for incorrect or fabricated references)
  • ensure the absence of plagiarism, bias, factual errors, or hallucinated content
  • ensure that all external sources, data, and identifiable materials are correctly cited and attributed
  • retain and be able to explain their contribution, interpretation, and scholarly judgment
  • accept full responsibility for any errors, omissions, or ethical breaches resulting from AI-assisted work

5. Authorship and AI
AI tools cannot be credited as authors or co-authors, and must not be cited as authors. Authorship is limited to humans who can take public responsibility for the work, approve the final version, and respond to integrity questions.

Including AI tools in the list of authors, author notes, or author contribution statements is prohibited and may result in desk rejection or retraction.

6. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Tool Terms
Before using any AI tool, authors must ensure that its terms and conditions safeguard privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, and other rights. Authors must not provide confidential, proprietary, sensitive, or personally identifiable information to third-party AI tools unless they have a clear legal basis and adequate protections are in place.

7. Disclosure Requirements (Authors)
Authors must provide full and transparent disclosure if AI tools were used beyond basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks. Disclosure must include:

  • the name, version (if applicable), and developer/provider of the AI tool used
  • a clear description of the purpose and extent of its use
  • a statement confirming that the authors reviewed, verified, and take responsibility for all AI-assisted content

Location of disclosure in manuscripts

  • Methods section: if the tool contributed to data analysis, coding, figure generation (methods-based exception), or other parts of the research methodology.
  • Acknowledgements section: if the tool was used for substantive writing support, translation, or restructuring beyond basic proofreading.
  • Dedicated statement: authors are encouraged to include a section titled “Declaration of AI Tool Usage” before the References.

Declaration of AI Tool Usage: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [insert AI tool name, version, and provider] for [describe the purpose and extent of use]. All AI-assisted outputs were critically reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors to ensure factual accuracy, clarity, and compliance with academic standards. The authors take full responsibility for the integrity and content of this manuscript.

8. Reviewer Policy (Confidentiality and Integrity)
Peer review is based on human judgment and confidentiality. Reviewers must:

  • treat manuscripts under review as confidential documents
  • not upload a submitted manuscript (or any part of it) into a generative AI tool
  • not upload peer-review reports, questionnaires, or review correspondence into any AI tool, even for language improvement
  • not use generative AI to perform the scientific assessment or to generate review conclusions

Reviewers remain responsible and accountable for the content of their review reports.

9. Editor and Editorial Staff Policy (Confidentiality and Decision-making)
Editors and editorial staff must:

  • treat submitted manuscripts, editorial notes, and decision communications as confidential
  • not upload manuscripts or any related confidential correspondence (including decision letters) into generative AI tools, even for language improvement
  • not use generative AI to assist in editorial evaluation or decision-making

Editors remain responsible and accountable for the editorial process, decisions, and communications.

10. Editorial and Peer Review Oversight
Editors and peer reviewers will evaluate AI disclosures as part of the manuscript’s ethical and methodological assessment. SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis may use screening tools (including similarity checks and AI-writing detection tools) to support editorial checks. SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis will not rely solely on automated tools to determine compliance. All assessments involve human review and direct communication with authors when clarification is needed.

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

  • request clarification, disclosure updates, supporting materials, or revision
  • reject the manuscript
  • refer the case to the institution or initiate a formal investigation if misconduct is suspected

11. Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

  • rejection of the manuscript at any stage of review
  • retraction of the article after publication
  • notification of the author’s institution in cases of suspected misconduct
  • banning future submissions by the author if misuse is severe or repeated

12. Appeals and Dispute Resolution
If an author disputes an editorial decision related to AI tool usage, they may submit a formal written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief. The appeal must explain the disagreement, include supporting evidence, and reference this policy. Appeals will be reviewed by the journal’s ethics process and may be escalated when appropriate.

13. Policy Updates and Author Guidance
As AI technologies evolve, this policy will be reviewed and updated to reflect new risks, benefits, and community standards. Authors, reviewers, and editors should consult this policy before participating in the journal process and contact the editorial office if unsure whether a specific use is compliant.

Ethical Framework and References