Greetings from The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension: Competence for Rural Innovation and Transformation (JAEE)! Each year, the JAEE editors and members of the editorial committee vote on the best article, excluding any articles of which editorial board members are among the authors. We use the following criteria for selecting the best article:
Reports empirical research contributing to the development of agricultural education and extension theory.
Helps increase effectiveness of agricultural education and extension programs by providing theory-based insights into how results can be used in other places beyond the study site.
Addresses issues of currency/topicality/urgency/timeliness worldwide.
Uses up-to-date references; draws from leading authors in the field; is linked to current international scientific debates.
Uses appropriate methodology, clear explanations, and multi-methods that are reliable and valid.
Provides clear links between data/issues and conclusions; insightful with depth of critique.
Innovative approach.
Provides evidence-based policy insights.
Presents important implications for practice.
Well written and structured.
These are very good criteria to keep in mind when preparing a manuscript for JAEE, and in future we are considering only accepting manuscripts for review that have a cover letter detailing how authors have met each of these criteria. It is not sufficient to simply align with the broad scope of JAEE; manuscripts must be rooted in and contribute to theoretical debates and they must draw out implications for practice and policy at an international level (beyond the country of study). Too often, effort is wasted by both authors and the editors in submitting and desk rejecting manuscripts that do not sufficiently fit these criteria.
For 2023, the article of the year is ‘Developing agri-food value chains: learning networks between exploration and exploitation’ by Charis Linda Braun, Vera Bitsch, and Anna Maria Häring. The study explores the development of agri-food value chains from an organizational learning perspective, using the German organic food sector as an example. The authors show how the development of local value chains unfolds over time and outline how facilitation can support this process. By drawing on the theory of exploration and exploitation, the study enhances the understanding of value chains collaboration in an inter-organizational setting. The study conceptualizes the development of agri-food value chains and the role of facilitators in the process. The article is open access and has been viewed 2912 times with five Crossref citations.
I hope you are able to take a look at this 2023 article and many others in the journal, including those in this current issue: ‘Unraveling the connection between coffee farmers’ value chain challenges and experiential knowledge: The role of farm family resources’ by Robert Ochago and colleagues; ‘Endogenous learning and innovation in African smallholder agriculture: Lessons from Guinea-Bissau’ by Merlin Leunda Martiarena and Marina Padrão Temudo; ‘A holistic approach to understanding ICT implementation challenges in rural advisory services: Lessons from using farmer learning videos’ by Mori W. Gouroubera and colleagues; ‘How to fund learning and innovation networks for sustainable agriculture: a conceptual framework’ by Gerlinde Behrendt and colleagues; ‘Preparing agricultural leaders: An assessment of agricultural students’ perceived importance and development of employability skills’ by Jean A. Parrella and colleagues; ‘Managing end-user participation for the adoption of digital livestock technologies: Expectations, performance, relationships, and support’ by J. Schillings and colleagues; and ‘Identifying characteristics of a competence-based agricultural higher education system: a literature review’ by Mahsa Saadvandi and colleagues. Happy reading!