Announcements
10 February 2026
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Agronomy in 2025
3 February 2026
Agronomy | Top Viewed Papers Published in 2024
2 February 2026
MDPI’s Journal Cluster of Agricultural Science
The transition to sedentary, agriculture-based societies was the main catalyst in human history that facilitated the establishment of stable communities and the emergence of complex civilizations. Today, as we face the systemic pressures of climate change, resource depletion, and a burgeoning global population, agriculture remains the fundamental driver of human survival and societal stability. Addressing these new challenges requires a transition toward resilient production systems, driven by the synergy between soil health, crop innovation, and the use of new technologies required to navigate a shifting environmental landscape.
The agricultural science cluster serves as a strategic hub for researchers dedicated to these advancements. By consolidating these interconnected disciplines, we provide authors with a streamlined editorial pathway that enhances the discoverability and cross-disciplinary impact of their work. This initiative assists the scientific community in navigating the extensive agricultural literature, ensuring that specialized research is positioned alongside relevant studies to maximize visibility and facilitate the translation of theory into field-level solutions.
Our Specialized Journals:
The cluster brings together a diverse range of high-impact journals, each led by distinguished experts in their respective fields:
- Agriculture (ISSN: 2077-0472): A broad-scope journal covering all aspects of agricultural science, from sustainable farming to agricultural economics. Agriculture is led by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland (Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia);
- Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395): Focused specifically on field-crop production, agroecology, and management. Agronomy is led by Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston (Gulbali Centre for Agriculture, Water and Environment Research, Charles Sturt University, Australia);
- Horticulturae (ISSN: 2311-7524): Focused on the science of high-value crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Horticulturae is led by Prof. Dr. Luigi De Bellis (Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Italy);
- Soil Systems (ISSN: 2571-8789): Explores the biological, (bio)chemical, and physical processes within soils and sediments. Soil Systems is led by Prof. Dr. Heike Knicker (Group of Interactions Between Soils, Plants and Microorganisms, Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de la Grasa (IG-CSIC), Spain);
- AgriEngineering (ISSN: 2624-7402): An open-source venue for the engineering science behind agricultural production. AgriEngineering is led by Prof. Dr. Francesco Marinello (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy);
- Crops (ISSN: 2673-7655): Highlights research on the production, improvement, and utilization of food, feed, forage, horticultural, and industrial crops. Crops is led by Prof. Dr. Yinglong Chen (School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Australia);
- Seeds (ISSN: 2674-1024): Dedicated to the biology and technology of seeds, from molecular physiology to priming and production. Seeds is led by Dr. José Antonio Hernández Cortés (Group of Fruit Biotechnology, Department of Fruit Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC, Spain);
- Grasses (ISSN: 2813-3463): Covers fundamental and applied research in grass biology and sustainable cropping systems. Grasses is led by Prof. Dr. Fabio Gresta (Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy);
- Agrochemicals (ISSN: 2813-3145): A holistic "farm to fork" look at the chemicals used in the agro-food chain. Agrochemicals is led by Prof. Dr. Christos G. Athanassiou (Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Crop Production and Rural Environment, Department of Agriculture, University of Thessaly, Greece);
- AI and Precision Agriculture: At the intersection of technology and agronomy, focusing on AI-driven solutions for modern farming.
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Journals |
Launch year |
Impact Factor (2024) |
CiteScore (2024) |
First Decision (Median Days) |
Acceptance to Publication (Median Days) |
APC |
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2011 |
3.6 |
6.3 |
18.8 |
1.9 |
CHF 2600 |
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2011 |
3.4 |
6.7 |
17 |
1.8 |
CHF 2600 |
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2015 |
3.0 |
5.1 |
16.7 |
2.6 |
CHF 2200 |
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2017 |
3.5 |
5.4 |
29.9 |
3.9 |
CHF 1800 |
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2019 |
3.0 |
4.7 |
20.6 |
5.4 |
CHF 1800 |
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2021 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
22.4 |
4.2 |
CHF 1200 |
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2022 |
/ |
2.8 |
25 |
3.5 |
CHF 1200 |
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2022 |
/ |
/ |
26.5 |
12.5 |
CHF 1200 |
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2022 |
/ |
/ |
27 |
3.6 |
CHF 1000 |
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/ |
/ |
/ |
19 |
8 |
CHF 1000 |
MDPI Mission and Values:
As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has served the scientific community since 1996. We aim to foster scientific exchange in all forms across all disciplines. MDPI’s guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:
- Open Access—All of our content is published in open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attribution;
- Timeliness and Efficiency—Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and papers are published within 7-10 days upon acceptance;
- Simplicity—Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
- High-Quality Service—Support scholars and their work by providing a range of options, such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net to positively impact research;
- Flexibility—Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the research community's changing needs, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
- Rooted in Sustainability—Ensuring long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.
By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.
Selected Topics:
“Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, 2nd Edition”
Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Gianni Barcaccia, Dr. Alessandro Vannozzi, Dr. Fabio Palumbo, Dr. Silvia Farinati and Dr. Francesco Scariolo
Manuscript submission deadline: 30 June 2026
“Soil Health and Nutrient Management for Crop Productivity”
Topic Editors: Dr. Na Li and Prof. Dr. Dorcas H. Franklin
Manuscript submission deadline: 30 September 2026
“Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems”
Topic Editors: Dr. M. Ibrahim Khalil and Prof. Dr. Bruce Osborne
Manuscript submission deadline: 8 October 2026
Selected Articles:
Agriculture
“Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Soil Health and Crop Quality in Modern Agriculture: A Review”
by Denis-Constantin Țopa, Sorin Căpșună, Anca-Elena Calistru and Costică Ailincăi
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15090998
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/998
Agronomy
“Novel Breeding Techniques and Strategies for Enhancing Greenhouse Vegetable Product Quality”
by Julia Weiss and Nazim S. Gruda
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010207
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/207
Horticulturae
“Exploring the Grape Agrivoltaic System: Climate Modulation and Vine Benefits in the Puglia Region, Southeastern Italy”
by Andrea Magarelli, Andrea Mazzeo and Giuseppe Ferrara
Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020160
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/2/160
Soil Systems
“Predicting Soil Salinity Based on Soil/Water Extracts in a Semi-Arid Region of Morocco”
by Jamal-Eddine Ouzemou, Ahmed Laamrani, Ali El Battay and Joann K. Whalen
Soil Syst. 2025, 9(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9010003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/1/3
AgriEngineering
“AI-Driven Cooperative Control for Autonomous Tractors and Implements: A Comprehensive Review”
by Hongjie Jia, Weipeng Chen, Zhihao Su, Yaozu Sun, Zhengpeng Qian and Longxia Huang
AgriEngineering 2025, 7(11), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering7110394
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/11/394
Crops
“Advanced High-Throughput Phenotyping Techniques for Managing Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops—A Comprehensive Review”
by Srushtideep Angidi, Kartik Madankar, Muhammad Massub Tehseen and Anshika Bhatla
Crops 2025, 5(2), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5020008
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/5/2/8
Seeds
“The Effects of Storage Conditions on Seed Deterioration and Ageing: How to Improve Seed Longevity”
by Françoise Corbineau
Seeds 2024, 3(1), 56-75; https://doi.org/10.3390/seeds3010005
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/3/1/5
Grasses
“Sustainable Warm-Climate Forage Legumes: Versatile Products and Services”
by James P. Muir, José C. Batista Dubeux Junior, Mércia V. Ferreira dos Santos, Jamie L. Foster, Rinaldo L. Caraciolo Ferreira, Mário de Andrade Lira, Jr., Barbara Bellows, Edward Osei, Bir B. Singh and Jeff A. Brady
Grasses 2025, 4(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4020016
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/4/2/16
Agrochemicals
“EU Chemical Plant Protection Products in 2023: Current State and Perspectives”
by Patrice A. Marchand
Agrochemicals 2023, 2(1), 106-117; https://doi.org/10.3390/agrochemicals2010008
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3145/2/1/8
2 February 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #31 - MDPI 30 Years, 500 Journals, UK Summit, Z-Forum Conference, APE
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
MDPI at 30: Three Decades of Open Science, Built Together
As we begin 2026, we approach a meaningful milestone in MDPI’s history: 30 years of advancing Open Science.
What began in 1996 as a small, researcher-driven initiative has grown into a global open-access publisher, supporting hundreds of journals, millions of researchers, and a shared belief that scientific knowledge should be openly available to all. Over these three decades, Open Access has moved from the margins to the mainstream, and MDPI has been proud to help shape that transformation.
To mark this anniversary year, we are pleased to share our MDPI 30th Anniversary logo.
The Anniversary logo is intentionally simple, confident, and enduring, designed to work across cultures, disciplines, and digital environments. It reflects both continuity and progress, honouring MDPI’s established identity while representing the company we are today. The green accent symbolizes our connection to the research communities we serve and the collaborative nature of Open Science itself.
Alongside the visual identity, we are also introducing our 30th Anniversary tagline:
30 Years of Open Science, Built Together.
This phrase captures what has always defined MDPI. Open Science is not the work of a single organization: it is a collective effort shaped by researchers, editors, reviewers, institutions, and the many teams who support the publishing process every day. MDPI’s role has been to provide the infrastructure and commitment that allow this collaboration to thrive.
Throughout 2026, we will mark this anniversary through regional events, global conversations, and editorial initiatives that reflect on MDPI’s evolution, its impact across disciplines, and the communities that make this work possible.
“Open Science is a collective effort”
Whether you have been part of MDPI’s journey for decades or are engaging with us for the first time this year, this milestone belongs to all of us. The past 30 years have shown what is possible when openness, trust, and collaboration are placed at the centre of scholarly communication.
As we look ahead, our focus remains clear: continuing to strengthen quality, integrity, and partnership – so that Open Science can keep moving forward, together.
Impactful Research
A Shared Milestone: MDPI’s Journal Portfolio Reaches 500 Titles
MDPI has reached an important milestone: our journal portfolio grew to more than 500 academic journals last year, spanning the fields of chemistry, engineering, biology, medicine, environmental sciences, the social sciences, and beyond.
The number itself is significant, but what matters more is what supports it: hundreds of scholarly communities that have chosen to collaborate, grow, and publish with MDPI.
From our beginnings nearly 30 years ago with a single Open Access journal (Molecules), MDPI has been guided by a simple aim: advancing Open Science. Reaching 500 journals is not an endpoint. It reflects the diversity of disciplines, ideas, and research cultures that now form part of our shared ecosystem.
Growth with Purpose
Every journal exists because a specific community believes there is a need for focus, visibility, and dialogue in a particular field. As our portfolio has expanded, so has our responsibility to ensure that scale is matched with strong editorial standards, robust research integrity practices, and meaningful academic leadership.
This milestone comes as we enter MDPI’s 30th anniversary year, a fitting moment to reflect on what scale in scholarly publishing truly requires: not only reach, but also dedicated long-term stewardship.
New Journals, New Communities
In December 2025 alone, MDPI welcomed eight newly launched journals and three journal transfers (details below), all of which published their inaugural issues by year-end.
Each of these journals is shaped by its Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members, who define its scope, standards, and direction. We are grateful for the time, expertise, and commitment they bring to building these new communities.
Welcoming Transferred and Acquired Journals
We were pleased to publish the first MDPI issues of three recently transferred or acquired journals:
- Cardiovascular Medicine – advancing research on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease
- Germs – addressing infectious diseases through clinical, public health, and translational perspectives
- Romanian Journal of Preventive Medicine (RJPM) – supporting population health, early detection, and preventive care in collaboration with the Romanian Society of Preventive Medicine
Each of these journals brings an established identity and legacy. Our role is to support their continued development with the same editorial rigor, transparency, and Open Access principles that guide our broader portfolio.
A Collective Achievement
Reaching more than 500 journals is not the achievement of any single team or individual. It is the result of collaboration across the entire scholarly ecosystem. As such, I would like to thank our authors, reviewers, academic editors, and Editorial Board Members, as well as our colleagues across MDPI, who support these communities every day.
As we look ahead, we will continue to expand the breadth and depth of our publishing activities while remaining attentive to the evolving expectations of Open Science, research integrity, and responsible growth.
This milestone is a reminder that Open Access publishing is not only about making research available. It is about building platforms where knowledge can be shared, challenged, improved, and trusted, at scale, and with care.
Inside Research
MDPI UK Summit 2026 in Manchester (21–22 January)
On 21–22 January, we had the pleasure of hosting the MDPI UK Summit 2026 in Manchester. Over two days, we welcomed more than 20 Editors-in-Chief (EiC), Section Editors-in-Chief (SEiC), and Associate Editors for an open, in-depth conversations about how MDPI supports Open Science, editorial independence, and research standards across our journals.
What stood out most was not just the quality of the discussions, but the openness, curiosity, and mutual respect that shaped every session.
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What We Covered
The programme was designed to give insight into how MDPI works behind the scenes and how different teams collaborate to support our journals and editors. Topics included:
- MDPI overview and the evolving Open Access market
- MDPI–UK collaboration and local engagement
- Editorial and peer-review processes
- Research integrity and publication ethics
- Institutional partnerships
- Indexing, journal development, and academic community engagement
Sessions were led by MDPI colleagues across editorial, research integrity, indexing, partnerships, and UK operations, showing how cross-functional our work truly is.
What We Heard
The feedback from editors was both encouraging and grounding:
- 92% rated the Summit Excellent (8% Good)
- 100% said their understanding of MDPI’s values, editorial processes, and local collaborations had significantly improved
- 69% attended primarily to stay informed about academic publishing and research integrity
- 85% felt fully heard and engaged
A few comments that stayed with me:
- “Today’s event truly gave me the opportunity to see the heart of MDPI UK.”
- “The summit was very informative – I really enjoyed seeing the behind-the-scenes operations.”
- “Keep being open to discussions and making editors feel part of the MDPI family.”
These reflections remind us that transparency, listening, and dialogue are not nice-to-haves: they are foundational to trust.
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Looking Ahead
The UK Summit is one of more than 10 MDPI Summits we are organizing this year across North America, Europe, and APAC. Each one is an investment in relationships, shared understanding, and improvement.
Thank you to the MDPI UK team and supporting colleagues across departments who made this event possible. This was a positive step in strengthening our editorial engagement and kicking off a year of MDPI Summits.
Coming Together for Science
Recapping the Z-Forum 2026 Conference on Sustainability and Innovation (15–16 January 2026)
In January, MDPI supported and participated in the Z-Forum on Sustainability and Innovation, held across Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the city of Baden. With 96 participants and more than 30 speakers and panellists, the forum brought together leaders from government, academia, industry, and innovation ecosystems to explore how sustainability, Open Science, and innovation intersect in practice.
Why this mattered for MDPI
As a Swiss-based publisher with global reach, our investment in Z-Forum reflects a strategic intent: to anchor MDPI more deeply within Swiss research networks while contributing to national and international conversations on sustainability and innovation.
This was not only about visibility; it was also about relationship-building and long-term engagement with institutions shaping research policy and practice in Switzerland.
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High-level participation and credibility
The forum was supported and sponsored by several key Swiss institutions, including:
- The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) – Switzerland’s central research funding body
- ETH Zurich
- The University of Zurich
- The University of Basel
- Swiss Innovation Park Central
The sponsorship of SNSF lent the forum strong institutional credibility and signalled the relevance of the themes discussed, especially around sustainability, innovation frameworks, and responsible research practices.
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Beyond the Room: Extending the Conversation
While attendance was intentionally focused to encourage dialogue, the forum’s reach extended well beyond the venue. Multiple LinkedIn posts before and during the event (e.g., Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, and more) built on the discussions and helped position MDPI as an active and credible contributor within Switzerland’s research and innovation landscape.
A Broader Strategic Signal
Z-Forum is part of a wider effort to:
- Build on MDPI’s Swiss institutional relationships
- Reinforce our leadership in Open Science and sustainability
- Engage proactively with funders, universities, and innovation bodies
- Ensure MDPI remains a visible and constructive partner in the ecosystems where research policy and practice are shaped
Thank you to our Conference team and everyone involved in supporting this event, both behind the scenes and on the ground. These moments of engagement may be small in scale, but they are foundational in impact.
Closing Thoughts
Reflections from the Academic Publishing in Europe Conference
During 13-14 January, I attended the Academic Publishing in Europe (APE) Conference in Berlin, a long-standing forum for discussing scholarly publishing and the deeper principles that support it.
MDPI was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary of the APE conference, reflecting our continued commitment to supporting the scholarly community to engage in critical industry discussions.
This year’s program covered a range of topics, from AI and research integrity to policy, infrastructure, and trust, but one theme stood out clearly for me: academic freedom, and what it means to protect the conditions under which knowledge can be produced, evaluated, and shared responsibly.
Before turning to that, I would like to highlight the opening keynote by Carolin Sutton (CEO, STM), which helped set the tone for the conference.
An Independent Publishing Industry: The Case for Checks and Balances
In her opening remarks, Carolin focused on the importance of continually evolving systems of checks and balances, both operationally and at the marketplace level, to prevent any single actor from dominating knowledge production. Her framing emphasized shared responsibility across publishers, institutions, and research communities, rather than placing the burden on any one group.
As part of this, she revisited the work of sociologist Robert K. Merton, and his CUDOS norms of scientific ethos, first articulated in his 1942 work, The Normative Structure of Science.
Merton outlined four ideals that support healthy scientific systems:
- Communalism – knowledge as a public good
- Universalism – evaluation based on merit, not status or identity
- Disinterestedness – orientation toward truth over personal or financial gain
- Organized Skepticism – systematic, critical scrutiny of claims
While these are ideals, and not guarantees that are perfectly lived up to, they remain powerful reference points today for research systems and organizations as they aim to grow and scale.
It was interesting to see how closely these norms align with foundational principles of Open Access. For example, making research openly available supports communalism. Transparent peer review and editorial processes reinforce universalism and organized skepticism. Strong ethics frameworks and governance help counter conflicts of interest and support disinterestedness.
“Merton’s ideals remain powerful reference points today”
Safeguarding Research: Academic Freedom
Several of the conference sessions touched on the pressures faced by researchers, editors, and institutions: geopolitical tensions, online harassment, misinformation, reputational risk, shrinking resources, and politicized narratives around science.
“Integrity is not static. It must be actively maintained as systems grow.”
A particularly timely presentation came from Ilyas Saliba, who talked about academic freedom. His remarks resonated strongly and underlined the fact that safety in academia is not only physical or digital, but also intellectual.
Academic freedom means safeguarding the ability to ask difficult questions, challenge consensus, publish negative or unexpected results, and participate in scholarly debate without fear of undue personal, political, or commercial consequences. These discussions were a reminder that publishers play an important role in supporting the integrity, accessibility, and credibility of scholarly knowledge, particularly as researchers and institutions face mounting external pressures.
Looking Ahead
The discussions at APE reminded me that integrity is not static. It must be actively maintained as systems grow, expectations evolve, and pressures increase. This applies equally to research integrity, academic freedom, and the broader trust placed in scholarly communication.
I left APE encouraged by the openness of the dialogue and the willingness across publishers, institutions, and communities to engage with difficult questions rather than avoid them. Forums like this play a pivotal role in helping our industry pause, reflect, and recalibrate.
As MDPI continues to grow and as we enter our 30th anniversary, these conversations remind me of the core purpose of science: advancing knowledge for the benefit of society.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
2 February 2026
Agronomy | Selected Review Papers Published in 2024
29 January 2026
Agronomy | Selected Editor’s Choice Articles Published in 2024
26 January 2026
Agronomy Webinar | Natural Products and Microbial Strategies for Integrated Crop Protection with Broader Applications, 6 February 2026
Crop protection remains one of the most pressing challenges in modern agriculture, with plant diseases continuing to threaten yield stability, food security, and environmental sustainability. At the same time, there is growing demand for solutions that move beyond conventional chemical inputs—solutions that are effective, field-ready, and aligned with societal expectations regarding safety and sustainability. Recent advances in plant science and microbiology have opened up new pathways to meet these demands by drawing inspiration from nature itself.
Research increasingly demonstrates how nature-derived compounds and beneficial microorganisms can play a pivotal role in sustainable crop protection. Allelopathy-inspired chemistry, for example, is revealing promising avenues for greener pest and weed management, including innovative concepts based on strigolactone mimics and benzoxazinoid-derived bioherbicides. In parallel, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria are gaining attention as biocontrol agents capable of enhancing plant resilience while reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals. Compounds sourced from food and medicinal plants are also attracting growing interest for their broader protective and regulatory benefits.
To explore these developments and their practical implications, we have invited distinguished researchers from the Universities of Cádiz (Spain), Naples Federico II (Italy), and Graz (Austria) to share their insights. Together, their contributions bridge fundamental understanding of this topic with application-oriented strategies, highlighting how science is responding to evolving agricultural and societal needs.
We warmly invite you to join this Agronomy-hosted webinar for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on advancing sustainable solutions for crop disease control and beyond, and to explore how these research directions continue to shape the future of agriculture.
Date: 6 February 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CET | 5:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 873 9540 1662
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Agronomy-8
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations made with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch online.
Register now for free!
Program:
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Speaker/Presentation |
Time in MST |
Time in CET |
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MDPI Introduction |
10:00–10:10 a.m. |
5:00–5:10 p.m. |
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Dr. Jesús García Zorrilla (Chair) |
10:10–10:30 a.m. |
5:10–5:30 p.m. |
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Dr. Francisco Javier Rodríguez Mejías |
10:30–10:50 a.m. |
5:30–5:50 p.m. |
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Prof. Rachele Isticato |
10:50–11:10 a.m. |
5:50–6:10 p.m. |
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Prof. Franz Bucar
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11:10–11:30 a.m. |
6:10–6:30 p.m. |
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Q&A Session |
11:30–11:45 a.m. |
6:30–6:45 p.m. |
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Dr. Jesús García Zorrilla (Chair) |
11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
6:45–7:00 p.m. |
Webinar Chair and Speakers:
- Dr. Jesús García Zorrilla (Chair), University of Cádiz, Spain;
- Dr. Francisco Javier Rodríguez Mejías, University of Cádiz, Spain;
- Prof. Rachele Isticato, University of Naples Federico II, Italy;
- Prof. Franz Bucar, University of Graz, Austria.
23 January 2026
International Day of Clean Energy—“Clean Energy: For All and for Our Planet”, 26 January 2026
26 January marks the International Day of Clean Energy, a global initiative that aims to drive equitable and sustainable energy transitions, leaving no one behind and protecting our planet. As emphasized by the UN, clean energy is essential for closing the energy access gap (an estimated 1.5 billion people in rural areas still use unsafe, unhealthy and inefficient cooking systems) and for combatting climate change (over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by fossil fuel energy production). Clean energy fuels socio-economic progress, empowering vulnerable communities in terms of education, healthcare and livelihoods, while also addressing the issue of polluting fuels, which are linked to 3.2 million premature deaths each year.
Join us in celebrating this International Day of Clean Energy by exploring research that turns global goals, such as Sustainable Development Goal 7, into actionable solutions. Together, these works amplify the UN’s call to action, uniting researchers, policymakers, and innovators to build a future in which clean energy benefits everyone and safeguards our planet.
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“Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis”
by Roksana Yasmin, Md. Nurun Nabi, Fazlur Rashid and Md. Alamgir Hossain
Clean Technol. 2025, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol7020036
“Quantifying Cybersecurity Impacts on Clean Energy Market Volatility: A Time-Frequency Approach”
by Catalin Gheorghe and Oana Panazan
Mathematics 2025, 13(8), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/math13081320
“Lifecycle Management of Hydrogen Pipelines: Design, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Strategies for Canada’s Clean Energy Transition”
by Myo Myo Khaing and Shunde Yin
Energies 2025, 18(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020240
“A Comprehensive Review of Green Energy Technologies: Towards Sustainable Clean Energy Transition and Global Net-Zero Carbon Emissions”
by Vinod Kumar Sharma, Giulia Monteleone, Giacobbe Braccio, Cosmas N. Anyanwu and Nneoma N. Aneke.
Processes 2025, 13(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010069
“Integration of Crops, Livestock, and Solar Panels: A Review of Agrivoltaic Systems”
by Diego Soto-Gómez
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081824
“Long-Term Energy System Modelling for a Clean Energy Transition and Improved Energy Security in Botswana’s Energy Sector Using the Open-Source Energy Modelling System”
by Ranea Saad, Fernando Plazas-Niño, Carla Cannone, Rudolf Yeganyan, Mark Howells and Hannah Luscombe
Climate 2024, 12(6), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12060088
“Long-Term Energy System Modelling for a Clean Energy Transition in Egypt’s Energy Sector”
by Anna Gibson, Zen Makuch, Rudolf Yeganyan, Naomi Tan, Carla Cannone and Mark Howells
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2397; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102397
“Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloys: Advances, Strategies, and Future Outlook for Clean Energy Applications”
by Yaohui Xu, Yang Zhou, Yuting Li, Yechen Hao, Pingkeng Wu and Zhao Ding
Molecules 2024, 29(11), 2525; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112525
“Real-Time Monitoring of Wind Turbine Bearing Using Simple Neural Network on Raspberry Pi”
by Tianhao Wang, Hongying Meng, Rui Qin, Fan Zhang and Asoke Kumar Nandi.
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 3129; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14073129
“A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy”
by Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Lady Bravo-Montero, Jhon Caicedo-Potosí and Paúl Carrión-Mero
Water 2024, 16(7), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16071017
“Energy Management Strategy for DC Micro-Grid System with the Important Penetration of Renewable Energy”
by Christian Bipongo Ndeke, Marco Adonis and Ali Almaktoof
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2659; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062659
“Energy Transition in Vietnam: A Strategic Analysis and Forecast”
by Minh Phuong Nguyen, Tatiana Ponomarenko and Nga Nguyen
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1969; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051969
“Natural Gas Matters: LNG and India’s Quest for Clean Energy”
by Subhadip Ghosh, Rajarshi Majumder and Bidisha Chatterjee
Gases 2024, 4(1), 1-17; https://doi.org/10.3390/gases4010001
“Assessment of Bioenergy Potential from Biomass Waste to Improve Access to Clean Energy for Cooking in Mali”
by Iván Segura-Rodríguez and Ramchandra Bhandari
Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010455
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“Sustainable Valorization of Biomass for Clean Energy and High-Value Products” |
“Clean Energy Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation” |
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“Unconventional Energy, Clean Energy and Carbon Sequestration: Progress in Technology” |
“New Challenges in Clean Energy Technologies: Waste-to-Energy for Circular Economy” |
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9 January 2026
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in December 2025
We have expanded our open access portfolio with eight new journals publishing their inaugural issues in December 2025, as well as three journal transfers. These additions span physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, environmental and Earth sciences, medicine and pharmacology, and public health and healthcare. We extend our sincere thanks to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who are shaping these journals’ direction. All journals uphold strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.
Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.
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New Journals |
Founding Editor-in-Chief(s) |
Journal Topics (Selected) |
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Dr. Elisa Felicitas Arias, Université PSL, France |
atomic clocks; time and frequency metrology; GNSS systems; relativity and relativistic timekeeping; fundamental physics in space | |
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Prof. Dr. José F.F. Mendes, University of Aveiro, Portugal |
complex systems; network science; nonlinear dynamics and chaotic behaviour; information theory and complexity; computational complexity | |
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Prof. Dr. Roberto Morandotti, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique—Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS), Canada |
light generation; light sources and applications; light control and measurement; human responses to light; lighting design | |
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Prof. Dr. Savvas A. Chatzichristofis, Neapolis University Pafos, Cyprus |
generative AI and large language models in education; multimodal and embodied AI; personalization and adaptive systems; assessment, feedback, and academic integrity; learning analytics | |
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Prof. Dr. Jon Andoni Duñabeitia, Universidad Nebrija, Spain |
cognitive psychology; cognitive neuroscience; psycholinguistics; applied linguistics; experimental psychology | |
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Prof. Dr. Caiwu Fu, Wuhan University, China; Prof. Dr. Longxi Zhang, Peking University, China |
cultural practices; cultural theory; cultural policy; cultural heritage; transregional and transnational cultural flows| |
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Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar, iCREST Environmental Education Foundation, USA |
biosphere interactions, processes, and sustainability; ecosystem science and dynamics; biodiversity conservation; global change and environmental adaptation; biogeochemical cycles | |
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Dr. Giuseppe Mulè, University of Palermo, Italy |
cardiorenal syndromes; chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease; cardiorenalmetabolic syndrome; hypertension and diabetes in relation to the abovementioned syndromes; diagnostic techniques | |
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Transferred Journals |
Editor-in-Chief |
Journal Topics (Selected) |
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Prof. Dr. Peter Matt, Lucerne Cantonal Hospital (LUKS), Switzerland |
cardiology; cardiovascular and aortic surgery; cardiovascular anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; congenital heart disease and pediatric cardiology; cardiovascular regenerative and reparative medicine | |
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Prof. Dr. Oana Săndulescu, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania; National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Bals”, Romania |
infectious diseases across clinical and public health domains; epidemiology of communicable diseases; clinical microbiology and applied virology; vaccinology and immunization; host–pathogen interactions and immunity | |
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Dr. Roxana Elena Bohiltea, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania |
public health; disease prevention; screening and early detection; lifestyle interventions and health education; digital and innovative prevention | |
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create more new journals, you are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).
31 December 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #30 - Scaling with Integrity, Highly Cited Researchers, KEMÖ Consortium, Michele Parrinello, and Best PhD Thesis Awards
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
With colleagues at MDPI headquarters in Basel, representing the people behind our global growth and shared commitment to integrity.
Scaling with Integrity: A Year of Growth, Responsibility, and Trust
When I look back on 2025, one phrase seems to sum up the year: “Scaling with integrity.” That was our watchword for 2025, and it will remain so as we move forward in to 2026.
Our journal portfolio continued to grow in 2025, reflecting the trust of a widening proportion of the scholarly community.
Today, MDPI has 355 journals indexed in Scopus and 330 in Web of Science – a testimonial to the scale at which our journals meet established external quality criteria. During the year, 45 of our journals were newly accepted into Scopus and 29 into Web of Science (this excludes transferred journals to our portfolio that were already indexed), following rigorous, independent evaluation by the world’s leading indexing bodies
Meeting external quality benchmarks
These results underline the fact that scaling responsibly is not only about expanding our catalogue, but also about meeting external quality benchmarks consistently, transparently, and at scale. Our indexing performance remains one of the strongest independent validations of MDPI’s commitment to rigor, trust, and long-term sustainability.
Over the course of 2025, we made targeted investments to ensure that the integrity of our editorial process scaled to keep pace with our growth. We strengthened our editorial governance by doubling down on our dedicated Publication Ethics department, appointing a Head of Ethics, and expanding our research integrity team by the addition of new specialists plus the creation of embedded editorial ethics roles across key journals. We also introduced new internal ethics guidelines, pre-review integrity checks, and monitoring dashboards to help teams identify potential issues and apply consistent standards across our portfolio.
Besides investing in systems and tools, we of course also invested heavily in our people and culture, delivering organisation-wide training on topics such as image integrity, AI use in publishing, and ethical oversight, while actively engaging with the wider publishing community through COPE and STM forums.
All these efforts reflect a simple principle: growth only matters if it is matched by rigor, responsibility, and trust.
Technology and AI: Supporting the editorial decision-making process
At MDPI, AI is designed to assist, not replace, editorial decision-making. It is one element in a broader system that combines people, technology, and processes to support scale responsibly.
In 2025, we continued to invest heavily in technology that supports quality rather than shortcuts. Our AI team doubled in size, ensuring that increased automation goes hand-in-hand with expertise and oversight. Proprietary AI tools such as Scholar Finder have significantly improved the precision of reviewer matching, while Ethicality has been widely adopted across editorial workflows to identify contextual signals, such as scope alignment and citation behaviour, so that human judgment can be applied where it matters most.
Partnerships: Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreements and Societies
Our recent growth is also reflected in the strength of our partnerships. In 2025, we entered into more than 150 new IOAP agreements, bringing our total to 975 active agreements worldwide. This activity included the signing of our first-ever consortium agreements in North America, renewals of all major national consortia in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, and Croatia, and the conclusion of several flat-fee agreements. At the same time, we concluded a total of 30 agreements, encompassing 24 new Society affiliations, four strategic publishing partnerships, and two journal acquisitions.
In 2025, we opened MDPI USA in Philadelphia – our latest global office, which complements our Toronto office in representing North America. MDPI USA is responsible for accelerating Open Access in the US through ongoing support of our scholars and for expanding our institutional and society partnerships.
On the other side of the globe, meanwhile, we signed an IOAP agreement in India, allowing researchers discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs), streamlined APC management for universities, and visibility into submissions, supporting India’s push for wider Open Access by offering flexible models and helping institutions meet national mandates such as Plan S.
Sustainability, sponsorships and awards
We continued to expand our sustainability efforts during 2025, hosting the 11th World Sustainability Forum, awarding CHF 125,000 in sustainability-related funding, and launching the Z-Forum on Sustainability and Innovation conference, which will officially take place in January 2026.
We also saw a record year for conference sponsorships and awards (while establishing new awards such as the Michele Parrinello Award), recognising scholars across disciplines and reinforcing our commitment to supporting the global research community at every stage of the academic journey.
Deepening our relationships
In 2025, I had the opportunity to travel more widely than ever before on MDPI business, meeting many of our stakeholders face to face and relishing the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their science communication needs. It was also excellent to visit a large number of MDPI offices and witness the commitment and service orientation of so many of our colleagues around the world. I shall resume my itinerary in the new year, and I look forward to many more such interactions.
Looking ahead to 2026, we will be celebrating a very significant milestone: 30 years of MDPI. From our foundation as a single Open Access journal in 1996 to the global publishing organisation we are today, our mission has remained consistent: advancing Open Access through rigorous and trustworthy scientific communication.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders – authors, Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, and reviewers – who have placed their trust in us during 2025. On behalf of the entire MDPI team, I look forward to deepening our relationships yet further in 2026 and celebrating 30 Years of Open Science at MDPI, something we’ve built together.
Basel, Switzerland, where MDPI was founded in 1996.
Impactful Research
621 MDPI Editors Named Highly Cited Researchers in 2025
I am pleased to share an important milestone for our editorial community and for MDPI. In late November, Clarivate announced the 2025 Highly Cited Researchers, and 621 MDPI Editorial Board Members were included among the most influential scientific contributors over the past decade!
The 621 editors come from 33 countries, representing 21 scientific disciplines, and account for nearly one in every ten Highly Cited Researchers globally. This recognition speaks to the depth of expertise across our Editorial Boards and the strength of the scientific communities that choose to collaborate with MDPI. It is important to note that while citation metrics are not in themselves a proxy for quality, they do offer one lens on sustained scientific influence.
“Our strength comes from the scientific communities who choose to work with us”
Why this is important
Having more than 600 editors recognized on this list highlights:
- The high level of expertise guiding peer review across our journals
- The global and disciplinary diversity within our Editorial Boards
- Our commitment to maintaining strong, knowledgeable, and engaged editorial oversight
Impactful science is of course shaped by broad, diverse research communities, and no single metric captures the full picture of research quality. However, this recognition does serve as meaningful, independent affirmation of the calibre of many editors who contribute to MDPI’s work.
A closer look at the recognition
Clarivate’s methodology highlights researchers whose publications rank in the top one per cent by citation count, reflecting consistent influence over the past decade. The process includes:
- Evaluation of c. 200,000 highly cited papers
- Removal of retracted publications
- Filtering of papers with unusually large authorship groups to focus on clear contributions
That so many of our editors meet these thresholds reflects the impact of the communities behind our journals.
What this means going forward
This recognition underlines the fact that our strength comes from the scientific communities who choose to work with us.
For authors, partners, and readers, it confirms that:
- MDPI journals benefit from editorial guidance grounded in active, high-impact research
- Our Editorial boards include leaders who are helping shape the future direction of their fields
- MDPI continues to attract experts who value openness, efficiency, and scientific integrity
For our internal teams, it is a reminder that the work we do every day (supporting editors, refining workflows, and improving systems) directly contributes to the trust placed in MDPI by researchers worldwide.
Thank you to all our editorial teams, publishing staff, and journal relationship specialists, and to everyone who collaborates with our Editorial Boards. Achievements like this are only possible because of your ongoing hard work, dedication, and collaboration.
From our first annual MDPI UK Summit in Manchester, bringing together over 30 Chief Editors and Editorial Board Members to discuss MDPI’s mission, achievements, and collaborations in the UK.
Inside MDPI
MDPI Launches the Michele Parrinello Award for Computational Physical Science
In case you missed it, in November, we announced the launch of the Michele Parrinello Award. This new biennial international award will recognize pioneering contributions in computational physical science. The award honours Michele Parrinello, one of the most influential scientists of the past half-century in atomistic simulations and computational materials research.
This award reflects MDPI’s long-standing commitment to recognizing scientific excellence, supporting foundational research, and inspiring the next generation of scholars across disciplines.
“Be confident that what you do is meaningful”
Honouring a transformative scientific legacy
Professor Parrinello’s work has fundamentally reshaped how scientists model matter at the atomic scale. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, widely known as the Car–Parrinello method, opening new pathways in electronic structure calculations and molecular simulations. His subsequent contributions, including the Parrinello–Rahman method and metadynamics, have become core tools across physics, chemistry, materials science, and increasingly biology.
“Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking, ‘What is going to happen to me?’ and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”
– Professor Michele Parrinello
A global, community-led award
The award committee is chaired by Xin-Gao Gong, Professor of Physics at Fudan University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University will serve as the supporting institute, reinforcing the award’s international and cross-cultural foundation.
Nominations for the first edition of the Michele Parrinello Award opened on 1 November 2025, with submissions accepted until March 2026. The award will recognize scientists whose work has advanced computational physical science across physics, chemistry, and materials research – fields increasingly central to energy, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and technological innovation.
Why this matters for MDPI
The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which supports science as a driver of long-term societal progress.
Alongside other foundation-level honours, including the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award, this new prize builds on our role in supporting excellence across career stages and disciplines.
MDPI journals and programs continue to recognize researchers through Best Paper Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards. Together, these initiatives reflect a simple belief: strong scientific communities are built through recognition, trust, and sustained support.
As MDPI approaches its 30th anniversary, the launch of the Michele Parrinello Award highlights our commitment not only to publishing research but also to helping shape the future of science by celebrating those who expand its boundaries.
Coming Together for Science
KEMÖ Consortium (Austria) Extends Open Access Agreement with MDPI until 2027
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has renewed its Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreement with the Austrian library consortium KEMÖ, extending our partnership through 2027.
The renewed agreement now includes 23 Austrian institutions, with the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) joining the partnership. Participating institutions benefit from APC discounts across MDPI’s more than 495 journals, with centralized funding options further reducing the administrative burden for researchers and libraries.
“This renewal reflects shared commitment to advancing Open Access publishing in Europe”
Austria continues to be an important and engaged research community for MDPI, with 525+ Austrian Editorial Board Members, eight Editors-in-Chief, and 15 Section Editors-in-Chief contributing to our journals.
This renewal reflects long-term trust and shared commitment to advancing Open Access publishing in Europe, and improves MDPI’s collaboration with national OA infrastructures such as the Open Access Monitor Austria. Such long-term agreements show how MDPI’s growth is increasingly built on institutional trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to Open Access.
A big thank-you to the IOAP team and everyone involved in supporting this partnership.
Closing Thoughts
Celebrating the Next Generation of Scholars: MDPI’s 2024 Best PhD Thesis Awards
One of the privileges of working in scholarly publishing is supporting the beginning of new scientific journeys. We recently announced the recipients of MDPI’s 2024 Best PhD Thesis Awards, recognizing some of the most promising emerging researchers across disciplines.
These awards do more than celebrate academic excellence. They reflect something deeper about our mission: supporting the next generation of authors and the future of Open Science.
Recognition of Excellence
This year, we made awards to 55 early-career researchers across seven fields:
- Biology and Life Sciences
- Chemistry and Materials Science
- Computer Science and Mathematics
- Engineering
- Environmental and Earth Sciences
- Medicine and Pharmacology
- Interdisciplinary ‘Other’ fields
For those of you who have completed a PhD, you’ll know first-hand that behind each number is a story of perseverance, curiosity, and sustained effort. These researchers represent institutions around the world, with thesis topics spanning:
- Brain–machine interfaces and neural engineering
- Sustainable materials and next-generation batteries
- Cancer genomics, tumour microenvironments, and immunotherapy
- AI-driven image analysis, robotics, and computational models
- Climate change monitoring and environmental risk assessment
- Regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and drug development
These dissertations are early signs of the scientific directions that will shape the coming decade.
“Our mission is about building a global community of authors”
Why this is important
Every year, millions of scholars begin their research careers with limited visibility and few platforms for sharing their work. By recognizing outstanding PhD theses, we elevate authors early in their academic journeys, build MDPI’s connection to the global research community, reinforce our commitment to quality and rigor, and highlight the depth and breadth of scholarship published across our portfolio (from biology to materials science to mathematics).
A foretaste of the future
These 55 awardees represent the next generation of researchers whose work will influence science, policy, and society in the years ahead. What we support today helps shape the scientific ecosystem of tomorrow. Our mission goes beyond publishing papers. It is about building a global community of authors who will define the next era of scientific discovery.
To explore more about MDPI Awards, including current and upcoming Best PhD Thesis Awards, please click here.
Thank you to the editors, reviewers, and teams across MDPI who make these awards possible each year.
Everything we achieved this year was made possible by the collective effort of our global teams and the trust placed in us by the scholarly community. Thank you again, and here’s to the successful continuation of our collaboration in 2026!
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
