AFNS operates under a fully open access publishing model. All content is freely available without subscription barriers, reflecting the belief that scientific knowledge should be accessible to everyone. This policy ensures compliance with funder mandates, enhances the visibility of published research, and promotes equity in global scholarship.

Core Principles

• Immediate Access: Articles are published online in open access format as soon as they are accepted and finalized.
• No Barriers: There are no subscription fees or institutional access restrictions.
• Reuse with Attribution: Content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), allowing sharing and adaptation with proper citation.
• Global Inclusivity: Open access ensures readers worldwide, regardless of resources, can benefit from and contribute to scientific dialogue.

Funder Compliance

AFNS meets the requirements of major open access mandates, including:

• Plan S: Articles are immediately open access and licensed under CC BY.
• NIH, Wellcome Trust, and Horizon Europe: Depositing of manuscripts in institutional or subject repositories is fully supported.
• CrossRef DOIs: Persistent identifiers ensure reliability in citations and metadata tracking.

Repository Rights

Authors are free to deposit preprints, accepted manuscripts, and final published versions in institutional, subject-based, or general repositories. Deposits must include the DOI link to the version of record at AFNS to maintain transparency and citation accuracy.

Archiving

Open access at AFNS is safeguarded through participation in LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, and Portico. These systems preserve content permanently, ensuring accessibility even in unforeseen circumstances.

Why Open Access Policy Matters

Science grows through openness. AFNS’s policy ensures that nutrition research reaches policymakers, practitioners, and communities—bridging gaps between knowledge and action. Removing access barriers accelerates discovery, supports global equity, and ensures that valuable research serves humanity without restriction.

Author’s Rights

Authors retain copyright of their work, granting AFNS a non-exclusive right to publish and disseminate. This empowers authors to share their articles widely across platforms and channels without needing additional permission.

Conclusion

The Open Access Policy at AFNS embodies fairness, inclusivity, and responsibility. By ensuring immediate, barrier-free access, we uphold the principle that scientific knowledge is a public good—a shared resource meant to enrich lives and inspire progress.