Announcements

MDPI is pleased to announce the inclusion of 237 journals in the 2024 release of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and share the key results (see above).

This year, journals covered in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) received category ranks together with journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Overall, 139 MDPI journals indexed in ESCI are included in the new unified rankings for the first time.

Enhanced Comparability of Data

According to Clarivate, "the creation of unified category rankings [provides] a simpler and more complete category view for the evaluation of journal performance. [...] The category-first approach simplifies journal performance assessment with a holistic view of all journals in each subject category."

We are thrilled to announce that 72% of our ranked MDPI journals (171 of 237) are above average, in Q1 or Q2. Twenty-nine of our journals received their first Impact Factor this year, accounting for more than 5% of the journals accepted into the Web of Science last year.

MDPI Journals Ranked in JCR

The following data includes all MDPI journals indexed in SCIE, SSCI, ESCI and AHCI.

Source: 2023 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ^TM (Clarivate, 2024)

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.5 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 professional, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 440 fully open access titles.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the Agronomy 2023 Young Investigator Award is Dr. Baohua Zhang.

Dr. Baohua Zhang is an Associate Professor at the College of Artificial Intelligence, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China. He is an esteemed researcher whose work focuses on AI and agricultural robots, agricultural information technologies, precision agriculture, and smart farming. His work demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges facing modern agriculture and the potential of cutting-edge technologies and how to address them effectively. Dr. Baohua Zhang’s publication record exemplifies his scholarly excellence and impact on the field. With an h-index of 37, he has authentically published over 70 research papers in highly prestigious national and international journals, including 50 JCR Q1 ranked publications. His research findings have consistently advanced the knowledge base in agronomy, highlighting the integration of AI technologies, agricultural robotics, and precision agriculture for sustainable food production. His research endeavors have not only contributed to academic discourse, but also have practical implications in the real world. His work on the quality and safety assessment of agricultural products has heightened the standards and reliability of crop production, benefiting both farmers and consumers. Furthermore, his research on robotic systems and their applications in agriculture has the potential to revolutionize farming practices and enhance productivity. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Baohua Zhang on his outstanding achievements.

As the awardee, Dr. Baohua Zhang will receive an honorarium of CHF 2000, an offer to publish a paper free of charge before 31 December 2024 in Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395) following peer review, and an electronic certificate.

We would like to thank all the nominators from their various fields of study for their participation and all the Award Committee Members for their evaluation of the many excellent nominations.

Agronomy Editorial Office

Conference: XX International Botanical Congress—IBC 2024
Organization: International Association for Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS)
Date: 21–27 July 2024
Place: FEMA Madrid, Avda del Partenón, 5. 28042 Madrid, Spain

MDPI journals will be attending IBC 2024 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held in Madrid, Spain, from 21 to 27 July 2024.

The IBC takes place every six years under the supervision of the International Association for Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS). Rooted in the tradition of systematic botany, the IBCs have enlarged their scope over more than a century to become an integrated forum for knowledge on the plant and mycological worlds. The topics include the following: systematics; phylogenetics; biogeography and evolution; ecology, environmental, and global change, including invasive species and plant-animal interactions; biodiversity and conservation; structure, physiology, and development, including evo-devo genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics; and plants and society.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Biology;
• Taxonomy;
• Agronomy;
• Diversity;
• Forests;
• Life;
• Ecologies;
• Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens (JZBG);
• Journal of Fungi (JoF);
• Conservation.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://ibcmadrid2024.com/.

We are pleased to inform you that Agronomy‘s 2023 CiteScore is 6.2.

Agronomy now ranks in the top 25% in the “Agronomy and Crop Science” category. Our journal continues to build momentum in agronomy and agroecology. Agronomy’s CiteScore ranks 62 among 406 (Q1) in the “Agronomy and Crop Science” category.

This result is a reflection of the excellent performance, support, and dedication of all journal editors, reviewers, authors, and readers.

We would like to extend our congratulations to all concerned.

For more journal statistics, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/stats.

Agronomy Editorial Office

On UNESCO’s 2024 Oceans Day, MDPI encourages the scientific community to increase the accessibility of ocean research to accelerate ocean conservation.

Basel, Switzerland, June 7, 2024: MDPI, a leading open access (OA) publisher, is proud to announce its active support for World Oceans Day 2024, celebrated under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade framework. MDPI’s CEO, Stefan Tochev hopes that “the latest ocean research can be made freely accessible to help empower scientists and communities at large to save our oceans,” under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade until 2030.

Open Access: A Catalyst for Ocean Action

MDPI’s presence at the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference 2024 highlights our unwavering commitment to using OA to advance ocean science, support research communities, and promote sustainable ocean management.

"Our involvement in the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference underscores MDPI's commitment to the underfunded Ocean SDG. By promoting OA to scientific articles and books on SDGs, we aim to inspire critical actions," said Tochev. "Our initiatives, like the World Sustainability Award and Emerging Sustainability Award, further demonstrate our dedication to advancing sustainability.”

Showcasing MDPI’s Contributions to Ocean Research

Over the past three years, MDPI has published 30,000 papers focused on ocean research and related topics. Key MDPI journals contributing to this body of work include:

• Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (4.9k papers)
• Remote Sensing (2.6k papers)
• Sustainability (2k papers)
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) (1.7k papers)
• Marine Drugs (1.5k papers)
• Water (1.5k papers)

These publications highlight MDPI’s contributions to ocean science, reinforcing our role in the broader sustainability agenda by promoting blue innovation and economy.

Additionally, MDPI has launched Oceans, an international, peer-reviewed forum specifically aimed at publishing studies related to all branches of oceanography with an emphasis on the functioning of the ocean and the sustainable use of its resources and ecosystem services.

Affirming MDPI’s Commitment to Ocean Science

MDPI’s commitment to OA is pivotal in addressing critical global challenges, from climate change to ocean sustainability. Our efforts resonate with Outcome 4 of the UNESCO Ocean Decade action roadmap: an accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information, technology, and innovation. By aligning with UNESCO’s goals, MDPI continues to contribute to shaping a sustainable future for our oceans, reinforcing our position as a forward-thinking publisher dedicated to environmental stewardship and scientific excellence.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at rui.duarte@mdpi.com or +41764313242.

About MDPI

95% of authors rate MDPI’s publication process as excellent or good, setting a new benchmark in scientific publishing – reveals 2023 Annual Report. 

Basel, Switzerland, June 4, 2024: MDPI, the leading open access (OA) publisher, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report, detailing remarkable achievements and reaffirming its leadership in advancing OA publishing. In 2023, MDPI received 655,065 submissions, of which 285,244 articles were published. The company now commands a 17% market share in gold open access articles, with a median publication time of six weeks.

Stefan Tochev, MDPI's CEO, stated, "As a pioneer in open access publishing, MDPI has long been a game-changer in the scholarly community, serving millions of authors around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available. Reflecting on our incredible journey at MDPI, 2023 has been marked by growth in paper submissions, ambitious projects and initiatives aimed at improving our internal processes and delivering top-notch services to our scientists."

MDPI's 2023 Annual Report highlights several key achievements:

• 17% market share in gold open access articles across all disciplines.
• Record satisfaction rates: 95% of authors, 82% of reviewers, and 85% of guest editors.
• Enhanced editorial standards and feedback processes.
• Increased reach and impact with 54 new MDPI journal inclusions in Scopus, 29 in Web of Science, and 77 in DOAJ.

MDPI’s unwavering commitment to advancing OA has transformed the landscape of scholarly publishing, making high-quality research freely accessible to the global scientific community. The continuous improvement in our editorial standards and feedback processes underscores MDPI’s dedication to ensuring academic integrity and excellence.

Global Reach and Collaboration

MDPI’s global footprint continues to expand, with authors from diverse regions: 37% from Asia/Pacific, 36% from Europe, 15% from the Americas, and 12% from other parts of the world. The company’s fully OA platform attracted nearly 14 million monthly visitors in 2023, reflecting its widespread influence in the scientific community.

Commitment to Partnerships

With over 800 institutional partners, MDPI continues to demonstrate its dedication to providing reliable and collaborative publishing services. The introduction of a transparent flat-fee model highlights MDPI's ongoing efforts to enhance affordability and support to the academic community. For more details read our 2023 Annual Report.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at rui.duarte@mdpi.com or +41764313242.

About MDPI

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395).

Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston is a Research Professor of plant biology at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. She moved to Australia in 2008 after holding research and instruction posts at Cornell University and the University of Kentucky, USA, in the Department of Horticulture. In recent years, her field of focus has shifted to plant/soil interactions and agronomic cropping systems in particular.

Prof. Dr. Weston’s research focuses on chemical ecology and physiology, with an emphasis on the generation of a deeper understanding of the plant rhizosphere and its associated microbiome, as well as how plant interactions with weeds, herbivores, pests and biocontrol organisms are mediated by secondary products.

Her research interests have included the development of a fundamental understanding of the localization, biosynthesis, and regulation of secondary plant products, particularly those in root exudates as sources of novel chemistry. Recently, metabolomics and genomics approaches have been undertaken to investigate how complex biosynthetic pathways impact plant defenses and microbial interactions.

The applied research conducted by Prof. Dr. Weston has focused on large multidisciplinary research projects for the prevention of herbicide resistance in common pasture and crop weeds, as well as the development of alternative management strategies for weeds and livestock pests, including the use of biocontrol agents such as dung beetles, crown weevils and flea beetles. Prof. Dr. Weston has also explored soil health and microbial diversity within the plant rhizosphere, in addition to examining the role of bioactive molecules in plant defense and weed suppression.

Prof. Dr. Weston is a charter member of RACI, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and a member of CAWS and the Weeds Society of NSW. She is also heavily involved in the International Allelopathy Society, where she has served as president and vice president, as well as conference organizer. She has received both the Molisch Award for Outstanding Research and the Grodzinsky Award for Outstanding Papers in IAS.  In recent years, she has also served as both the Section Editor-in-Chief of the “Weed Science and Weed Management” Section in MDPI’s Agronomy and the Associate Editor of the Peer J. Weed Technology and Frontiers in Agronomy. In May 2023, Prof. Dr. Weston was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston is taking over from Prof. Dr. Peter Langridge, the former Editor-in-Chief, whose passion for advancing agricultural science and visionary guidance has left an indelible mark on our journal. During his 13-year tenure, Agronomy has been shaped and improved by his direction, and his influence will surely benefit our research community for years to come. We wish Dr. Langridge great success in his future pursuits and are extremely grateful for his exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment as Editor-in-Chief of Agronomy since 2011.

With this announcement, we warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston as the new Editor-in-Chief and look forward to her contributions and the continued success of Agronomy.

Agronomy Editorial Office

Conference: the XX International Botany Congress (IBC 2024)
Organization: International Association for Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS)
Date: 21–27 July 2024
Place: FEMA Madrid, Avda del Partenón, 5. 28042 Madrid, Spain

MDPI journals will be attending IBC 2024 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held in Madrid, Spain, from 21 to 27 July 2024.

The IBC takes place every six years under the supervision of the International Association for Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS). Rooted in the tradition of systematic botany, the IBCs have enlarged their scope over more than a century to become an integrated forum for knowledge on the plant and mycological worlds. The topics include the following: systematics; phylogenetics; biogeography and evolution; ecology, environmental, and global change, including invasive species and plant–animal interactions; biodiversity and conservation; structure, physiology, and development, including evo-devo genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics; and plants and society.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Biology;
• Taxonomy;
• Agronomy;
• Diversity;
• Forests;
• Life;
• Ecologies;
• Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens (JZBG);
• Journal of Fungi (JOF);
• Conservation.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://ibcmadrid2024.com/.

We are pleased to announce MDPI’s Transfer Service.

This service provides a convenient method of transferring your manuscript file, along with any reviewer comments, to another journal within our publishing portfolio.

We are committed to helping authors find the right home for their research, and we will provide authors with guidance and technical support through all stages of the transfer process. Authors will be able to choose to transfer in the following two situations:

1. Select alternative journals on submission.

2. Authors are encouraged to transfer manuscripts to other MDPI journals.

More details about the Transfer Service can be found at the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/authors/transfer-service