Manuscript Template

Authors may use the following text-based template when preparing manuscripts for Food Systems, Safety & Sustainability (FSSS). The template provides a standard structure for submission but does not represent the journal’s final typeset layout.

FSSS normally applies double-anonymous peer review. Authors should therefore prepare two separate files:

  1. Title Page — containing author identities and administrative declarations;
  2. Anonymous Main Manuscript — containing the complete scholarly content without identifying information.

Authors should replace all text enclosed in square brackets with information relevant to their manuscript and delete any instructions that do not apply.

Title Page Template

The title page is not normally shared with external reviewers.

MANUSCRIPT TITLE

[Insert the complete title of the manuscript]

Running Title

[Insert a shortened title, normally no more than 50 characters, if required]


ARTICLE TYPE

[Original Research Article / Review Article / Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis / Short Communication / Methods Paper / Data Paper / Case Study / Policy Analysis / Perspective / Commentary / Letter to the Editor]


AUTHOR INFORMATION

Author 1

Full name: [Given name and family name]
Affiliation: [Department, institution, city, country]
Email: [Email address]
ORCID: [ORCID identifier]


Author 2

Full name: [Given name and family name]
Affiliation: [Department, institution, city, country]
Email: [Email address]
ORCID: [ORCID identifier]


Author 3

Full name: [Given name and family name]
Affiliation: [Department, institution, city, country]
Email: [Email address]
ORCID: [ORCID identifier]


CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Name: [Full name]
Affiliation: [Department and institution]
Postal address: [Complete institutional postal address]
Email: [Email address]
Telephone: [Optional]


AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

[Describe the contribution of each author. Authors are encouraged to use the CRediT contributor roles.]

Example:

Conceptualisation: A.A. and B.B.; Methodology: A.A.; Investigation: B.B. and C.C.; Data curation: B.B.; Formal analysis: A.A. and C.C.; Writing—original draft: A.A.; Writing—review and editing: all authors; Supervision: C.C. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.


FUNDING

[Provide the official name of each funding organisation and grant number.]

Example where funding was received:

This work was supported by [official funder name] under Grant [grant number]. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or decision to submit the article for publication.

Example where no specific funding was received:

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.


COMPETING INTERESTS

[Disclose all relevant financial and non-financial competing interests.]

Example where no competing interests exist:

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.


ETHICS APPROVAL

[Provide the full name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board, approval number, and relevant approval information.]

Example:

This study was approved by the [full name of ethics committee or institutional review board] (approval number: [number]). All procedures were conducted in accordance with applicable institutional and ethical requirements.

Where approval was not required:

Ethical approval was not required for this study because [provide a brief explanation].


INFORMED CONSENT

[State whether informed consent was obtained.]

Example:

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Where consent was not applicable:

Informed consent was not applicable because this study did not involve identifiable human participants or personal data.


CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

[Complete where identifiable personal information, images, recordings, or case information are included.]

Example:

Consent for publication was obtained from all individuals whose identifiable information appears in this article.

Where not applicable:

Consent for publication was not applicable.


DATA AVAILABILITY

[Explain whether and how the data supporting the study can be accessed.]

Example for repository data:

The data supporting the findings of this study are available in [repository name] at [DOI or persistent identifier].

Example for data available on request:

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Example for restricted data:

The data are not publicly available because they contain information subject to privacy, confidentiality, ethical, legal, commercial, or third-party restrictions.

Example where no new data were generated:

No new data were generated or analysed in this study.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

[Acknowledge individuals, institutions, facilities, or organisations that contributed to the work but do not qualify for authorship.]

Where there are no acknowledgements:

Not applicable.


ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DISCLOSURE

[Disclose substantive use of generative artificial intelligence where applicable.]

Example:

During preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name and version of tool] for [specific purpose]. All outputs were reviewed, verified, and revised by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the final content.

Where generative AI was not substantively used:

No generative artificial intelligence system was used to generate the scholarly content of this manuscript.


PREPRINT OR PRIOR DISSEMINATION

[Provide details of any preprint, conference paper, thesis, report, or other relevant prior dissemination.]

Example:

An earlier version of this manuscript was deposited on [preprint server] under the identifier [identifier or DOI].

Where there was no prior dissemination:

This manuscript has not been previously disseminated as a preprint or substantially equivalent publication.


SUGGESTED REVIEWERS

Reviewer 1:
Name: [Full name]
Institution: [Institution]
Email: [Institutional email address]
Area of expertise: [Relevant expertise]

Reviewer 2:
Name: [Full name]
Institution: [Institution]
Email: [Institutional email address]
Area of expertise: [Relevant expertise]

Reviewer 3:
Name: [Full name]
Institution: [Institution]
Email: [Institutional email address]
Area of expertise: [Relevant expertise]


OPPOSED REVIEWERS

[Optional. Identify any reviewer who should not assess the manuscript and provide a brief, professional justification.]

Anonymous Main Manuscript Template

The anonymous manuscript must not contain author names, affiliations, email addresses, acknowledgements, author contribution statements, or other directly identifying information.

MANUSCRIPT TITLE

[Insert the complete manuscript title]


ARTICLE TYPE

[Insert the selected article type]


ABSTRACT

Background:
[Briefly explain the scientific, policy, practical, or social context of the study.]

Objective:
[State the principal objective, research question, or hypothesis.]

Methods:
[Summarise the study design, setting, data source, sample, procedures, and analytical methods.]

Results:
[Present the principal findings, including relevant quantitative or qualitative results.]

Conclusion:
[State the principal conclusion and broader relevance of the study.]

[For article types that do not require a structured abstract, combine the above content into one coherent paragraph.]

Recommended abstract length:
- Original Research Article: 200–300 words
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: 250–350 words
- Short Communication: 150–250 words
- Review Article: 200–300 words
- Other article types: follow the Article Types page


KEYWORDS

[Insert four to eight keywords separated by semicolons.]

Example:

food systems; food safety; sustainability; supply chains; public health; climate resilience


1. INTRODUCTION

[Describe the research context and explain why the topic is important.]

[Identify the relevant scientific, policy, methodological, or practical problem.]

[Review the most relevant literature and identify the knowledge gap.]

[Explain the relationship of the study to food systems, food safety, sustainability, resilience, governance, innovation, or public well-being.]

[State the study objective, research question, or hypothesis clearly.]

Example concluding paragraph:

Accordingly, this study aimed to [insert objective]. The research addressed the following question: [insert research question]. The findings are expected to contribute to [state the broader scholarly, policy, or practical contribution].


2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 Study Design

[Identify and describe the research design.]

Examples:
- cross-sectional study;
- longitudinal study;
- randomised controlled trial;
- laboratory experiment;
- field experiment;
- qualitative interview study;
- mixed-methods study;
- life-cycle assessment;
- systematic review;
- economic evaluation;
- policy analysis;
- computational modelling study.


2.2 Study Setting and Period

[Describe where and when the study was conducted.]

Example:

The study was conducted in [location] between [month and year] and [month and year].


2.3 Population, Sample, Materials, or Data Source

[Describe the study population, sample, dataset, laboratory materials, organisations, policies, documents, or units of analysis.]

[State the inclusion and exclusion criteria.]

[Explain the sampling or selection procedure.]

[Provide the final sample size and, where relevant, the basis for sample-size determination.]


2.4 Data Collection

[Describe the instruments, procedures, laboratory methods, surveys, interviews, observations, measurements, or data-extraction methods.]

[Identify validated instruments and provide appropriate citations.]

[Explain how data quality, consistency, or reliability was maintained.]


2.5 Variables and Measures

[Define the principal exposure, intervention, outcome, predictor, explanatory, and control variables.]

[Explain how variables were measured, classified, transformed, or coded.]

[State units of measurement and relevant thresholds.]


2.6 Analytical Procedures

[Describe the statistical, qualitative, computational, economic, policy, or environmental analytical methods.]

[Identify the software and version used.]

Example:

Statistical analyses were performed using [software and version]. Continuous variables were summarised using [method], and categorical variables were reported as [method]. Associations were examined using [test or model]. Statistical significance was assessed at [threshold], and effect estimates are reported with [confidence intervals or uncertainty measures].


2.7 Quality Assurance and Validation

[Describe calibration, validation, reliability testing, quality-control procedures, sensitivity analyses, robustness checks, or uncertainty assessment.]


2.8 Ethical Considerations

[Provide anonymised ethics information where necessary during peer review.]

Example:

The study received approval from an institutional ethics committee. Full identifying details and the approval number are provided on the separate title page.

[Describe informed consent, privacy protection, data security, animal welfare, biosafety, or other relevant ethical measures.]


2.9 Reporting Guideline

[Identify the reporting guideline followed.]

Example:

This study was reported in accordance with the STROBE guideline.

[Upload the completed reporting checklist separately where applicable.]


3. RESULTS

3.1 Participant, Sample, or Dataset Characteristics

[Describe the characteristics of the study sample, materials, organisations, datasets, or cases.]

[Report recruitment, inclusion, exclusion, attrition, and missing data where applicable.]

[Refer to relevant tables and figures.]


3.2 Primary Findings

[Present the results corresponding to the principal research objective or primary outcome.]

[Include appropriate numerical estimates, qualitative themes, effect sizes, confidence intervals, uncertainty measures, or model-performance indicators.]


3.3 Secondary Findings

[Present secondary outcomes, subgroup analyses, comparative results, sensitivity analyses, or additional themes.]


3.4 Tables and Figures

[Insert tables and figures near their first citation or indicate their intended location.]

Example:

[Insert Table 1 near here]

[Insert Figure 1 near here]


4. DISCUSSION

4.1 Principal Findings

[Summarise the principal findings without repeating the entire Results section.]

[Explain how the findings address the research question or objective.]


4.2 Comparison with Previous Research

[Compare the findings with relevant international, national, and regional studies.]

[Explain consistencies, differences, and possible reasons for divergent findings.]


4.3 Interpretation and Mechanisms

[Explain the possible scientific, social, economic, environmental, technological, regulatory, or institutional mechanisms underlying the findings.]

[Distinguish clearly between evidence-based interpretation and speculation.]


4.4 Food-System Implications

[Explain the implications for food systems, food safety, sustainability, resilience, governance, public health, industry practice, regulation, or technological development.]

[Clarify whether the findings apply at local, regional, national, or international levels.]


4.5 Strengths and Limitations

[Describe the principal methodological and analytical strengths.]

[Discuss limitations honestly, including limitations relating to study design, sample, measurement, data quality, geographical context, generalisability, uncertainty, bias, or causal interpretation.]


4.6 Policy and Practical Implications

[Explain how the findings may inform public policy, regulation, industry practice, food-safety management, sustainability planning, professional practice, or community intervention.]

[Ensure that recommendations are proportionate to the evidence.]


4.7 Future Research

[Identify unresolved questions and priorities for future research.]


5. CONCLUSION

[Provide a concise synthesis of the principal contribution.]

[State the broader significance of the findings.]

[Do not introduce new data, references, or arguments.]

Example:

This study demonstrates that [principal finding]. The results indicate that [principal implication]. These findings contribute to [scholarly, policy, or practical field] and support further action concerning [future research, policy, regulation, practice, or food-system transformation].


DECLARATIONS

Ethics Approval

[Full identifying information should appear on the title page. Include an anonymised statement here where required.]

Example:

The study received approval from an appropriate institutional ethics committee. Full details are provided on the separate title page.


Informed Consent

[Insert applicable statement.]


Consent for Publication

[Insert applicable statement.]


Author Contributions

[For double-anonymous review, place the full contribution statement on the title page rather than in the anonymous manuscript. Insert “Provided on the separate title page” if required.]


Funding

[For double-anonymous review, identifying funding information may be placed on the title page.]

Example:

Funding information is provided on the separate title page.


Competing Interests

[For double-anonymous review, the full statement may appear on the title page.]

Example:

Competing-interest information is provided on the separate title page.


Data Availability

[Insert a non-identifying Data Availability Statement.]

Example:

The data supporting the findings of this study are available in a public repository. Full repository details will be supplied following completion of anonymous peer review.

Or:

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.


Acknowledgements

[Do not include identifying acknowledgements in the anonymous manuscript. Place them on the title page.]


Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

[Insert a non-identifying disclosure where applicable.]

Example:

A generative artificial-intelligence tool was used for limited language assistance. All output was reviewed and verified by the authors. Full details are provided on the title page.


REFERENCES

[Insert the complete reference list using the PSG Author–Date Citation Format.]

References must:
- be arranged alphabetically by the surname of the first author;
- include only works cited in the manuscript;
- include DOI information where available;
- use consistent punctuation and capitalisation;
- be checked against the original sources;
- avoid fabricated, unverifiable, or retracted references unless specifically discussed.


TABLES

Table 1. [Insert concise and informative title]

[Insert editable table]

Notes:
[Define abbreviations, units, statistical tests, symbols, and data sources.]


Table 2. [Insert concise and informative title]

[Insert editable table]

Notes:
[Insert explanatory notes.]


FIGURE CAPTIONS

Figure 1. [Insert complete and informative figure caption.]

Figure 2. [Insert complete and informative figure caption.]

[Figures may be embedded in the manuscript for review and supplied separately in high-resolution format where requested.]


SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Supplementary Table S1. [Insert title]

Supplementary Figure S1. [Insert title]

Supplementary File S1. [Describe the file]

[Identify all supplementary materials and cite them in the manuscript.]

Alternative Structure for Review Articles

Review Articles may use the following structure where appropriate:

MANUSCRIPT TITLE

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. PURPOSE AND REVIEW QUESTIONS

3. REVIEW APPROACH
   3.1 Information Sources
   3.2 Search Strategy
   3.3 Eligibility Criteria
   3.4 Study Selection
   3.5 Quality Assessment
   3.6 Evidence Synthesis

4. THEMATIC OR ANALYTICAL FINDINGS
   4.1 [Theme One]
   4.2 [Theme Two]
   4.3 [Theme Three]

5. CRITICAL DISCUSSION

6. EVIDENCE GAPS AND FUTURE RESEARCH

7. POLICY AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

8. CONCLUSION

DECLARATIONS

REFERENCES

TABLES

FIGURE CAPTIONS

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Alternative Structure for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

MANUSCRIPT TITLE

STRUCTURED ABSTRACT
- Background
- Objective
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusion

KEYWORDS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. METHODS
   2.1 Protocol and Registration
   2.2 Eligibility Criteria
   2.3 Information Sources
   2.4 Search Strategy
   2.5 Selection Process
   2.6 Data Collection
   2.7 Data Items
   2.8 Risk-of-Bias Assessment
   2.9 Effect Measures
   2.10 Synthesis Methods
   2.11 Reporting-Bias Assessment
   2.12 Certainty of Evidence

3. RESULTS
   3.1 Study Selection
   3.2 Study Characteristics
   3.3 Risk of Bias
   3.4 Individual Study Results
   3.5 Synthesis Results
   3.6 Reporting Biases
   3.7 Certainty of Evidence

4. DISCUSSION
   4.1 Principal Findings
   4.2 Comparison with Existing Evidence
   4.3 Strengths and Limitations
   4.4 Policy and Practical Implications
   4.5 Future Research

5. CONCLUSION

DECLARATIONS

REFERENCES

TABLES

FIGURE CAPTIONS

PRISMA FLOW DIAGRAM

SUPPLEMENTARY SEARCH STRATEGIES

PRISMA CHECKLIST

Alternative Structure for Qualitative Research

MANUSCRIPT TITLE

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONCEPTUAL OR THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

3. METHODOLOGY
   3.1 Research Design
   3.2 Research Setting
   3.3 Participants and Recruitment
   3.4 Data Collection
   3.5 Data Analysis
   3.6 Reflexivity and Researcher Positioning
   3.7 Trustworthiness and Quality
   3.8 Ethical Considerations

4. FINDINGS
   4.1 [Theme One]
   4.2 [Theme Two]
   4.3 [Theme Three]

5. DISCUSSION

6. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

7. IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD SYSTEMS, POLICY, OR PRACTICE

8. CONCLUSION

DECLARATIONS

REFERENCES

TABLES

FIGURE CAPTIONS

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

COREQ OR SRQR CHECKLIST

Alternative Structure for Policy Analyses and Case Studies

MANUSCRIPT TITLE

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. POLICY, PROGRAMME, ORGANISATION, OR CASE CONTEXT

3. ANALYTICAL OR CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

4. EVIDENCE AND METHODS

5. FINDINGS OR CASE ANALYSIS

6. DISCUSSION

7. POLICY OR PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

8. TRANSFERABILITY AND WIDER FOOD-SYSTEM RELEVANCE

9. LIMITATIONS

10. CONCLUSION

DECLARATIONS

REFERENCES

TABLES

FIGURE CAPTIONS

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Formatting Requirements

  • File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
  • Page size: A4
  • Margins: approximately 2.5 cm on all sides
  • Font: a readable font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
  • Font size: 11 or 12 points
  • Line spacing: 1.5 or double
  • Page numbering: consecutive throughout
  • Line numbering: continuous line numbering is strongly recommended
  • Language: consistent British or American English
  • Units: SI units should be used wherever appropriate
  • Headings: use a clear and consistent hierarchy
  • Tables: must be editable
  • Figures: must be legible and suitable for professional publication

Final Preparation Check

Before submission, authors should confirm that:

  • all placeholder text and instructions have been deleted;
  • the correct article structure has been used;
  • the title page and anonymous manuscript are separate files;
  • the anonymous manuscript contains no identifying information;
  • all author names, affiliations, and declarations are complete on the title page;
  • the abstract and keywords comply with the selected article type;
  • all tables and figures are cited in numerical order;
  • all references follow the PSG Author–Date Citation Format;
  • ethical approval, informed consent, funding, competing interests, data availability, and artificial-intelligence use have been disclosed where applicable;
  • all reporting checklists and supplementary files have been uploaded;
  • permissions have been obtained for third-party material; and
  • the manuscript complies with the Author Guidelines and Submission Preparation Checklist.

The Editorial Office may request changes to the manuscript structure, formatting, declarations, or file organisation before the submission proceeds to editorial assessment or external peer review.