Preservation and Archiving Policy

Preserving the scholarly record is a cornerstone of responsible publishing. AFNS is committed to ensuring that all published articles remain permanently accessible, discoverable, and usable. This Preservation and Archiving Policy outlines the strategies and partnerships we employ to protect content against loss, corruption, or obsolescence.

Digital Preservation Systems

AFNS collaborates with internationally recognized preservation networks to secure its content:

• LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe): Distributed archiving through participating libraries ensures redundancy and reliability.
• CLOCKSS: Community-governed digital preservation service that provides a fail-safe archive and triggers open access if content becomes unavailable.
• Portico: Trusted third-party archiving system that guards against technological obsolescence.

Institutional Repositories

Authors are encouraged to deposit accepted manuscripts and published versions in institutional or subject-specific repositories. This practice provides additional redundancy and enhances visibility, complementing journal-led preservation.

Metadata and Persistent Identifiers

All articles are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) via CrossRef, ensuring persistent linking and discoverability. Metadata follows standards such as Dublin Core and MARC, enabling interoperability with indexing services and libraries worldwide.

Backups and Security

AFNS maintains secure servers with routine backups to prevent accidental loss. Data is protected by encryption and access restrictions. Regular audits are conducted to confirm the resilience of preservation systems.

Preservation of Supplementary Materials

Beyond articles, supplementary files (datasets, images, multimedia, appendices) are preserved alongside the version of record. This ensures that supporting evidence remains available for future reference and reproducibility.

Contingency Planning

In the unlikely event that AFNS ceases operations, CLOCKSS and Portico guarantee perpetual access to all previously published articles. These mechanisms ensure continuity of the scholarly record independent of publisher circumstances.

Why Preservation Matters

Preservation is more than a technical safeguard—it is a commitment to authors, readers, and the scientific community. Research in food and nutritional science often informs health policy, education, and practice. By ensuring permanence, AFNS honors the labor of researchers and secures knowledge for future generations.

Conclusion

Through collaboration with trusted partners, adherence to global standards, and strong technical infrastructure, AFNS guarantees that its published content endures. Preservation protects not only the past but also the future of science.