Generative AI & AI-Assisted Technologies Policy

Food Innovation, Function and Sustainability (FIFS) recognises the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in research and scholarly communication. Such technologies must be used responsibly, transparently and in accordance with principles of research integrity.

Author Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and content of their submitted and published work, including any content produced or modified with the assistance of AI technologies.

Authorship

AI tools and technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot take responsibility for the work, approve the final manuscript, disclose competing interests or be accountable for the integrity of the research.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors should transparently disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in preparing a manuscript or conducting the reported research, where appropriate.

Routine tools used solely for spelling, grammar, formatting or basic language improvement generally do not require disclosure.

Research Data, Images and Results

Authors are responsible for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of all data, images, analyses and results reported in their manuscripts. AI-generated or AI-modified research content must not misrepresent, fabricate or falsify scientific evidence.

Peer Review and Editorial Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts. Unpublished manuscripts, data or confidential peer-review material should not be uploaded to generative AI systems where doing so could compromise confidentiality, intellectual property or data protection.

Editorial Action

Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI that compromises the originality, accuracy, confidentiality or integrity of a manuscript may result in editorial action, including rejection or appropriate post-publication action.