Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of scientific publishing with the relaunch of the Food and Ecological Systems Modelling Journal under a new, broader identity: Agricultural and Environmental Modelling (AEM). This open-access journal, hosted on the innovative ARPHA platform by Pensoft Publishers, is dedicated to fostering the advancement of computational and mathematical modeling within the diverse realms of agriculture, food systems, natural resource management, and environmental science. The rebranding signals more than just a change in name; it embodies a strategic expansion of disciplinary scope and an embracing of the full spectrum of modeling activities integral to these fields.
Agricultural and Environmental Modelling maintains the journal’s founding mission to elevate modeling research objects to first-class scientific outputs. Its core principles ensure that models are made citable, discoverable, and reusable, thus promoting scientific transparency and reproducibility. This commitment to openness is further exemplified in AEM’s rigorous peer-review process and its practice of offering entirely fee-free publication opportunities for contributing researchers—a boon for democratizing access to scientific dissemination worldwide.
The evolution of the journal’s scope now extends comprehensively across agricultural and environmental sciences. This expansion incorporates modeling efforts ranging from agroecology and production dynamics to food safety and supply chain control. It also addresses complex socio-ecological systems, resource management frameworks, and pioneering biotechnological methodologies. The breadth of this outlook reflects the interconnected nature of Earth’s systems and the necessity for integrated, multidisciplinary model-centric research paradigms.
One of the seminal innovations of AEM lies in its structured approach to the publication lifecycle of computational models. Recognizing that complex models mature through iterative stages—encompassing formal specification, software development, calibration, validation, and application—the journal provides unique article categories tailored to formally acknowledge each phase. This approach revolutionizes the traditionally monolithic publication model by ensuring credit is precisely allocated for discrete, scientifically rigorous contributions within the modeling pipeline.
Among the diverse article types, the Formal Model publication offers a groundbreaking platform for disseminating the foundational mathematical and conceptual frameworks that underpin modeling endeavors. Complementing this are Review Articles, Research Articles, and Short Communications, as well as specialized formats like Model Testing and Calibration reports, Model Implementation and Documentation papers, Software Descriptions, and Data Papers. Each submission is supported by tailored templates, facilitating clarity, consistency, and transparency in reporting.
AEM’s operational philosophy is deeply rooted in the FAIR principles—Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability—applied uniformly to data, source code, and model artifacts. Authors are mandated to make all supporting data and source codes openly accessible, reinforcing reproducibility and enabling subsequent researchers to build upon existing work. Particularly for machine learning methodologies, the journal enforces adherence to the DOME-ML guidelines, setting a high bar for the reproducibility and robustness of algorithmic applications.
The journal’s integration into robust archiving systems such as CLOCKSS, Zenodo, Portico, and Zendy ensures the long-term availability and preservation of published content. Additionally, indexing in more than forty scholarly databases—including AGRICOLA, Cabells, CABI, FAO AGRIS, and ResearchGate—maximizes discoverability and academic impact. This extensive infrastructure facilitates the seamless dissemination of research to a global audience, spanning academia, policy institutions, and industry stakeholders.
A recent exemplar of AEM’s innovative publishing model is the Formal Model article describing APODEMUS, a spatially-explicit simulation tool designed to assess pesticide risk for the European wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). This model offers regulatory bodies a scientifically rigorous and transparent blueprint to evaluate the landscape-scale ecological consequences of pesticide applications. Such work exemplifies the journal’s commitment to providing tools that inform and guide sustainable agricultural practices and environmental stewardship.
The journal actively encourages submissions from researchers working at every juncture of the modeling lifecycle, whether developing formal mathematical frameworks, documenting model calibration processes, sharing datasets, or presenting new computational workflows. Direct engagement with editors is welcomed, facilitating tailored guidance and fostering a collaborative scholarly environment that is responsive to evolving research needs and innovations.
In parallel, AEM is building a vibrant editorial community by inviting experts worldwide to join its ranks. The editorial board is envisioned as a dynamic, dedicated team of professionals who share the journal’s vision of transparent, open, and rigorous scientific communication. Their expertise will be fundamental in maintaining high standards and driving continuous innovation in the publication of modeling research.
The rebranding from the Food and Ecological Systems Modelling Journal to Agricultural and Environmental Modelling is more than cosmetic; it signifies the journal’s maturity and expanded remit. This transformation aligns with the grand challenges faced by the scientific community—addressing complex, interrelated issues of food security, environmental sustainability, and resource management through robust and transparent modeling science.
Prof. Christopher Topping, Editor-in-Chief of AEM, emphasizes that the journal is uniquely structured to support the entire modeling lifecycle, recognizing the multifaceted nature of scientific modeling work. Every contribution, from conceptual designs to applied implementations, is citable and credited appropriately, fostering an environment where methodical scientific rigour and innovation thrive.
Professor Lyubomir Penev, Pensoft’s founder and CEO, reflects on the journal’s journey and aspirations: The new title better encapsulates the breadth of scientific disciplines and methodologies represented within its pages and reaffirms the steadfast commitment to Open Science principles. This transformation is anticipated to catalyze new research collaborations and accelerate advances in both agricultural and environmental sciences.
Ultimately, Agricultural and Environmental Modelling represents a forward-looking outlet poised to become the nexus for cutting-edge modeling science. It anchors the essential principle that rigorous models are integral to understanding and solving pressing issues related to food systems, natural resource management, and environmental resilience on a global scale.
Subject of Research: Computational and mathematical modeling in agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and environmental sciences.
Article Title: A journal by modellers, for modellers: Introducing Agricultural and Environmental Modelling.
News Publication Date: 2026
Web References:
- Agricultural and Environmental Modelling journal: https://aem.pensoft.net/
- DOME-ML reproducibility guidelines: https://dome-ml.org/
- ARPHA Platform: https://arphahub.com/about/platform
- Indexing and archiving services: CLOCKSS (https://clockss.org/), Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/), Portico (https://www.portico.org/), Zendy (https://zendy.io/)
- Related recent paper: https://doi.org/10.3897/fmj.7.175714
References:
Topping CJ, Nogoy N, Boyadzhieva I, Stoev P, Penev L (2026) A journal by modellers, for modellers: Introducing Agricultural and Environmental Modelling. Agricultural and Environmental Modelling 8: e194160.
Singer A, Schmolke A, Becher MA, et al. (2026) Concept for APODEMUS – a wood mouse population model for pesticide risk assessment. Food and Ecological Systems Modelling Journal 7: e175714. https://doi.org/10.3897/fmj.7.175714
Image Credits: Pensoft Publishers
Keywords: agricultural modeling, environmental modeling, computational modeling, open access, FAIR principles, model lifecycle, reproducibility, formal model, agroecology, pesticide risk assessment, open science, ARPHA platform
