Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Title	Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Discipline	Agricultural chemistry, Food science
Editor	James N. Seiber
Publisher	American Chemical Society
Country	United States
History	1953–present
Frequency	Weekly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	5.895
Impact-year	2022
ISSN	0021-8561
EISSN	1520-5118
CODEN	JAFCAU
Website	https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau
OCLC	01773779

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. It is a premier peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society, focusing on the interface of agriculture and food science with chemistry and biochemistry. Since its inception, it has served as a critical forum for research on the chemical and biochemical composition of foods, agricultural products, and their processing, safety, and nutritional impacts. The journal is widely regarded as a leading authority in its field, disseminating original research that bridges fundamental science and practical applications for a global audience of researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers.

History and scope

The journal was established in 1953 under the auspices of the American Chemical Society, reflecting the growing scientific interest in the chemical basis of agriculture and food technology. Its scope has evolved significantly from early studies on fertilizer chemistry and pesticide analysis to encompass a broad, interdisciplinary range of topics central to modern agriscience and nutrition. Core research areas include the chemistry and biochemistry of crops, food additives, flavor compounds, nutraceuticals, and food packaging materials. It also publishes extensively on food safety, covering mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and heavy metal contamination, as well as advancements in analytical chemistry methodologies like mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy applied to food systems. The journal's evolution mirrors the expansion of the field, consistently addressing global challenges such as sustainable agriculture, food security, and functional food development.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is comprehensively abstracted and indexed in all major scientific databases, ensuring wide dissemination and accessibility of its research. It is covered by services including Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), Science Citation Index Expanded, and Scopus. It is also indexed in PubMed and MEDLINE, highlighting its relevance to biomedical and public health research. Furthermore, it is included in the Agricola database from the National Agricultural Library and CAB Abstracts from CAB International. This extensive indexing places it within key discovery platforms used by researchers at institutions like the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and major universities worldwide, facilitating cross-disciplinary citation and impact.

Editorial processes

The journal operates under a rigorous peer-review system managed by an editor-in-chief and a large international board of associate editors, typically leading scientists from institutions such as the University of California, Davis and Cornell University. Manuscripts undergo single-anonymized review, where the identities of the reviewers are withheld from the authors. The editorial board, which includes experts from organizations like the European Food Safety Authority and Mars, Incorporated, ensures that published work meets high standards of scientific validity, novelty, and clarity. The American Chemical Society provides a centralized manuscript submission and tracking system, and the journal adheres to publishing ethics guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Impact and recognition

It is consistently ranked among the top journals in its category, such as "Agriculture, Multidisciplinary" and "Food Science & Technology," in the Journal Citation Reports published by Clarivate Analytics. Its impact factor has remained high, reflecting its influence on subsequent research in both academic and industrial settings, including companies like Nestlé and PepsiCo. The journal's articles are frequently cited in patents, regulatory documents from bodies like the World Health Organization, and major reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization. Editors and authors from the journal have received prestigious awards from the American Chemical Society, such as the ACS Award in Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Notable articles and special issues

The journal has published numerous seminal studies that have shaped the field. These include groundbreaking research on the antioxidant properties of polyphenols in berries, the discovery of new phytonutrients in cruciferous vegetables, and innovative methods for detecting allergens and pathogens. It regularly commissions special issues focusing on urgent topics, such as the chemistry of Cannabis sativa, advances in alternative protein sources, and the safety of nanomaterials in food. These collections often arise from symposia held at major conferences like those of the American Chemical Society or the Institute of Food Technologists.

Related publications

The American Chemical Society publishes several related journals that complement its coverage. These include *Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry*'s sister publication, *ACS Agricultural Science & Technology*, which focuses on engineering and technology applications. Other relevant ACS journals are *Journal of Natural Products*, which covers bioactive compounds, and *Environmental Science & Technology*, which intersects with topics like agrochemical environmental fate. Outside the ACS portfolio, leading competitors and collaborators include *Food Chemistry* (published by Elsevier), *Journal of Food Science* (from the Institute of Food Technologists), and *Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition* (from Taylor & Francis).

Category:American Chemical Society academic journals Category:Food science journals Category:Agriculture journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 1953 Category:Weekly journals