Journal profile · Agronomy
Postharvest Biology and Technology
ISSN 0925-5214 · eISSN 1873-2356 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1991
Postharvest Biology and Technology: CAS Zone 1 · Agricultural & Forestry Sciences (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 7.3; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,280; review about 85 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 671 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Postharvest Biology and Technology is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management, Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies and Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities, together about 49% of its articles. Its main subfields are Plant Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Postharvest Biology and Technology is devoted exclusively to the publication of original papers, review articles and frontiers articles on biological and technological postharvest research of horticultural crops including fruit, vegetables, grapes, flowers, tea and nuts, but excluding grains, seeds, forages and spices.All aspects of postharvest research throughout the supply chain will be considered, including storage technologies, treatments and underpinning mechanisms, quality evaluation, packaging, handling, and distribution.The following research areas will be considered if they directly affect postharvest science: preharvest factors, ripening and senescence, product safety, systems biology, bioinformatics, entomology, plant physiology, plant pathology, (bio)chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, engineering, modelling, economics, and technology development.Manuscripts on the effect of treatments on the storage life of a product should have a mechanistic component and must include research on the physiological effects and working principles of the treatments. Manuscripts that report on technological development must be related to the biological processes of the product and should include a strong relationship with postharvest biology and technology. These studies should also demonstrate robustness of use, with exploration of limiting factors, typically through assessments using populations from different growing or storage conditions, seasons, cultivars, etc. Manuscripts reporting novel fundamental and interdisciplinary research that addresses biological, technological, and socio-economic issues that impact technology acceptance, are encouraged.The focus of this journal is on fresh horticultural products. Manuscripts on products that will be further processed after postharvest storage, or on treatments beyond refrigeration, packaging and minimal processing will be considered but only if linked strongly to the quality and provenance of the products at the time of harvest.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Agronomy
Editor-in-chief Shi-Ping TianPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 20 in mainland China (about 30%); most named Mainland China 20, United States 9, Israel 6, New Zealand 4, United Kingdom 3 (67 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life ManagementAgricultural and Biological Sciences28.9%
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation StudiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences13.5%
- Phytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesMedicine6.6%
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal DiseasesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5%
- Plant Surface Properties and TreatmentsAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.1%
- Nanocomposite Films for Food PackagingMaterials Science4%
- Plant Gene Expression AnalysisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4%
- Horticultural and Viticultural ResearchAgricultural and Biological Sciences4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Agronomy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Horticulture | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Agronomy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Horticulture | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Agronomy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Horticulture | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 7.3LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 12LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 12Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.38LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.6LetPub ·
- h-index
- 123LetPub ·
- h-index
- 198OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,324OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.76OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 21.9%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 15.43%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 642LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 7,754 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 528 | 144 | 344 |
| 2025 | 671 | 133 | 3,803 |
| 2024 | 542 | 104 | 7,621 |
| 2023 | 440 | 98 | 9,977 |
| 2022 | 327 | 56 | 9,590 |
| 2021 | 301 | 68 | 11,256 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
85 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 65%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 38 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 85 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,280 / EUR 4,000 / GBP 3,430 / JPY 530,850 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,670 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Author–date
Article types accepted9
- frontiers articles3. Frontiers ArticlesLength not stated
- invited review articles2. Invited Review ArticlesLength not stated
- original research1. Research Papers (regular papers)2. Invited Review Articles3. Frontiers ArticlesResearch Papers should report the results of original research. The material s…Length not stated
- perspective1. Research Papers (regular papers)2. Invited Review Articles3. Frontiers ArticlesResearch Papers should report the results of original research. The material s…Length not stated
- regular paper1. Research Papers (regular papers)2. Invited Review Articles3. Frontiers ArticlesResearch Papers should report the results of original research. The material s…Length not stated
- research paper1. Research Papers (regular papers)2. Invited Review Articles3. Frontiers ArticlesResearch Papers should report the results of original research. The material s…Length not stated
- research papers (regular papers)1. Research Papers (regular papers)Length not stated
- review1. Research Papers (regular papers)2. Invited Review Articles3. Frontiers ArticlesResearch Papers should report the results of original research. The material s…Length not stated
- review article1. Research Papers (regular papers)2. Invited Review Articles3. Frontiers ArticlesResearch Papers should report the results of original research. The material s…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Authors must follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy. Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process; submissions initially assessed by editors; if suitable, sent to a minimum of two reviewers; decision made by editors. Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy; does not count as prior publication. Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1991
- ISSN
- 0925-5214
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-2356
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Postharvest Biology and Technology
What CAS zone is Postharvest Biology and Technology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Postharvest Biology and Technology is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Agronomy / Food Science & Technology / Horticulture; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Postharvest Biology and Technology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.3; CiteScore 12, h-index 198.
How long does peer review take at Postharvest Biology and Technology?
The publisher reports about 85 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Postharvest Biology and Technology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Author–date. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Postharvest Biology and Technology based?
Of the 67 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 20 (about 30%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (20), United States (9) and Israel (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Postharvest Biology and Technology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Postharvest Biology and Technology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Postharvest Biology and Technology open access, and what is the APC?
Postharvest Biology and Technology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,280.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .