Harvest (journal)

Harvest (journal) is a peer-reviewed periodical covering research on agriculture, food production, rural development, and related environmental issues. The journal publishes original research, reviews, case studies, and policy analyses addressing crop science, livestock management, agroecology, and food systems. It aims to reach scholars, practitioners, and policymakers engaged with issues explored by institutions such as Food and Agriculture Organization, World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and research centers affiliated with University of California, Davis, Wageningen University and Research, CIMMYT, and CGIAR.

History

Harvest was established to provide a forum responding to global concerns raised at events like the Green Revolution debates, the Earth Summit, and the formation of United Nations Environment Programme. Early editorial boards included scholars from University of Cambridge, Cornell University, University of Oxford, Australian National University, and University of Nairobi, reflecting connections with initiatives such as the Rockefeller Foundation agricultural programs and collaborations with International Rice Research Institute and ICRISAT. Over successive decades its pages documented trajectories influenced by the Green Revolution, the Borlaug Hypothesis, the emergence of sustainable agriculture movements, and policy discussions tied to agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Special issues have highlighted responses to crises like the 2007–2008 world food price crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring contributors associated with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and national ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Scope and content

Content spans empirical studies in agronomy, plant pathology, and animal science linked to institutions such as John Innes Centre, Salk Institute, ETH Zurich, and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. Articles examine plant breeding efforts exemplified by programs at IRRI, CIMMYT, and Rothamsted Research; soil science research connected to Soil Conservation Service practices; and supply-chain analyses referencing actors like Walmart, Tesco, and Nestlé. The journal includes reviews on topics explored by scholars at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and London School of Economics on trade issues influenced by treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and institutions like the World Trade Organization. Case studies feature projects in regions represented by Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, with fieldwork collaborations involving FAO missions, national agricultural extension services, and NGOs such as Oxfam, CARE International, and Heifer International.

Editorial and publication details

The editorial board historically included editors from Nature Research, Science, and disciplinary journals published by houses such as Springer, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, and Taylor & Francis. Publication frequency has ranged from quarterly to bimonthly, with occasional special issues coedited with organizations like International Institute for Environment and Development and Resources for the Future. The journal’s peer-review processes mirror standards used by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, The Lancet, and BMJ Publishing Group, integrating editorial policies influenced by declarations such as the Berlin Declaration on Open Access and guidelines from bodies like the Committee on Publication Ethics. Production, copyediting, and distribution have involved partnerships with university presses including Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press for print and digital dissemination.

Abstracting and indexing

Harvest is indexed in major bibliographic databases and abstracting services analogous to inclusion in Scopus, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, and AGRIS. It appears in library catalogues of institutions such as the Library of Congress, British Library, National Library of Australia, and university systems including University of Michigan, Yale University, and Peking University. Metadata standards align with services run by organisations like CrossRef and ORCID for author identification, and the journal’s articles are discoverable through aggregators used by researchers at Google Scholar, JSTOR, and PubMed Central where relevant.

Reception and impact

Over time Harvest has been cited in policy reports produced by United Nations, World Health Organization, and International Monetary Fund, and in white papers by think tanks such as Chatham House, Brookings Institution, and CATO Institute. Its articles have informed interventions by development agencies including USAID and DFID, contributed evidence to debates at forums like the World Economic Forum, and been referenced in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Financial Times, and Foreign Policy. Citation metrics comparable to those tracked by Clarivate Analytics and altmetrics reported by Altmetric indicate influence across academic, policymaking, and practitioner communities; specific articles have shaped programs implemented by World Food Programme, European Commission, and national agencies including USDA and Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Category:Academic journals