Complaints and Appeals

Terra Alimentaria is committed to providing a fair, professional, and transparent publishing experience. We acknowledge that disagreements or process failures can occasionally occur.

In strict accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, we have established the following protocols for handling appeals against editorial decisions and general complaints regarding the journal's management or peer-review process.

1. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions (Manuscript Rejections)

Authors have the right to appeal an editorial decision (either a desk rejection or a rejection following peer review) if they believe the decision was based on a fundamental procedural error or a significant scientific misunderstanding by the reviewers/editors.

Important: Appeals will not be considered if the author simply disagrees with the reviewers' opinions or the journal's scope criteria. Appeals must be grounded in clear evidence of factual errors, bias, or failure to follow stated journal processes.

  • How to Appeal: The Corresponding Author must submit a formal "Letter of Appeal" via email to the Editor-in-Chief within 14 days of receiving the rejection notice. The letter must provide a detailed, point-by-point rebuttal of the reviewers' or editor's comments, backed by scientific evidence.
  • The Process: The Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal alongside the original manuscript and review reports. If the appeal is deemed valid, the manuscript may be sent to a new, independent reviewer or an Editorial Board member for a second opinion.
  • Finality: The decision made following an appeal is final. Subsequent appeals for the same manuscript will not be considered.

2. General Complaints

We welcome feedback and take all complaints seriously. Authors, reviewers, or readers may submit complaints regarding:

  • Severe delays in the peer-review or publication process.
  • Unprofessional conduct, bias, or ethical misconduct by reviewers or editorial staff.
  • Technical failures within the OJS platform affecting submissions.
  • Allegations of plagiarism or copyright infringement in published articles.

3. Complaint Handling Procedure

To ensure fairness and transparency, all complaints are handled systematically:

  1. Submission: Complaints must be submitted via email to the journal's primary contact address. Please include specific details, dates, and any relevant manuscript IDs or correspondence.
  2. Acknowledgment: The editorial office will acknowledge receipt of the complaint within 3 to 5 business days.
  3. Investigation: The Editor-in-Chief will lead the investigation, reviewing communication logs and consulting with relevant editorial board members if necessary. (Note: If the complaint is directly against the Editor-in-Chief, the investigation will be escalated to the Publisher, PT Nusaxis Pustaka Mandiri LLC).
  4. Resolution: We aim to provide a full, written resolution to all complaints within 2 to 4 weeks, detailing the findings and any corrective actions taken.

To submit an appeal or complaint, please use the official email address provided on our Contact page.