What Journal Metrics Reveal About Shifting Global Influence and Scientific Priorities
In the world of academic publishing, not all research is considered equal—the metrics tell a fascinating story of shifting global influence and scientific priorities.
Imagine a world where scientists in China, Brazil, and the United States are all racing to solve the same critical problems—sustainable food production, renewable energy, and environmental conservation. Their progress is tracked not just through field experiments but through an intricate system of academic journals, each with its own influence and prestige. This is the world of agricultural engineering research, where citation metrics and global rankings create an invisible map of scientific progress and shifting global research power.
To comprehend the landscape of agricultural engineering research, we must first understand the tools used to measure its impact. The Journal Citation Reports (JCR) from Clarivate provides the gold standard for evaluating academic journals through several key metrics1 .
The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) remains the most recognized of these metrics. It measures how frequently the "average article" in a journal has been cited in a particular year2 . A higher JIF generally indicates greater influence within the scientific community.
Other important metrics include the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), which accounts for both the number of citations and the prestige of the citing journals, and the quartile system, which ranks journals within their category (Q1 representing the top 25%)2 .
Only journals that meet rigorous quality standards for inclusion in the Web of Science Core Collection are featured within JCR, ensuring users can confidently rely on the information provided6 . In 2025, this included 22,249 journals across 254 scientific categories6 .
Journals in 2025 JCR
Scientific Categories
Quality Standards
Agricultural engineering encompasses a broad spectrum of research, from traditional farm machinery to cutting-edge bioenergy technologies. This diversity creates a fascinating stratification within journal metrics.
A comprehensive analysis of the 2017 JCR agricultural engineering category revealed striking disparities1 . Thirteen journals were analyzed (one had been listed by mistake), with six published by large for-profit publishers and seven by professional societies1 .
Specialty journals (particularly bioenergy-focused ones) "are not directly comparable with the comprehensive agricultural engineering journals and should potentially be excluded from future versions of the JCR"1 .
Demonstrated the strongest metrics, led by Bioresource Technology (JIF: 4.917), Biomass and Bioenergy (JIF: 3.219), and Industrial Crops and Products (JIF: 3.181)1 .
Showed more modest impact factors, with the highest being Biosystems Engineering at 2.0441 .
To understand the true state of agricultural engineering research, we can examine a detailed analysis of journal characteristics and metrics published in the International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering1 . This study provides a comprehensive snapshot of trends and global contributions in this critical field.
The researchers employed a systematic approach to analyze the agricultural engineering research landscape1 :
The analysis focused on citation data from the 2017 JCR (based on 2016 citation data) and additional information from the Web of Science Core Collection up to 2016.
Each journal was categorized by type (specialty versus comprehensive), publisher type, and publication frequency.
The team examined Journal Impact Factors, article volumes by year and journal, and source institutions and countries of published articles.
The study tracked changes from 2006 to 2016, revealing evolving patterns in research output and global contributions.
| Journal Name | Journal Impact Factor | Focus Area | Publisher Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioresource Technology | 4.917 | Bioenergy | For-profit |
| Biomass and Bioenergy | 3.219 | Bioenergy | For-profit |
| Industrial Crops and Products | 3.181 | Industrial Crops | For-profit |
| Biosystems Engineering | 2.044 | Comprehensive | Professional Society |
| Journal of Agricultural Engineering | 2.5 (2025 data) | Comprehensive | For-profit2 |
The analysis revealed a dramatic 263% increase in articles indexed in the Core Collection for the JCR agricultural engineering category—from 1,124 in 2006 to 4,078 in 20161 . This surge reflects the growing importance of agricultural engineering research in addressing global challenges.
Perhaps more notably, the data revealed a significant concentration of output in specialized journals. In 2016, over 70% of the total articles published appeared in just three bioenergy- or industrial-crop focused journals1 . This concentration highlights how research priorities have shifted toward sustainable energy and industrial applications.
The country and institutional data revealed significant shifts in the global research landscape, with traditional powerhouses being joined by emerging scientific nations.
| Country | Number of Articles | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| China | 1,132 | Leading contributor |
| United States | 669 | Second largest |
| Brazil | 474 | Significant emerging contributor |
| Other Countries | 1,803 | Combined output |
| Institution | Country | Articles Published |
|---|---|---|
| United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | United States | 136 |
| Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) | China | 136 |
| Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) | India | 79 |
The most striking finding concerned China's remarkable rise. The analysis showed that Chinese scientists were publishing in the 13 JCR Agricultural Engineering journals at an rapidly increasing rate, with seven research institutions ranked in the global top 20 in 2016 based on studies published in these journals1 .
Modern agricultural engineering research employs a diverse array of technologies and methodologies. While the metrics analysis provides a macroscopic view, understanding the tools researchers use reveals how the field is evolving.
| Technology/Methodology | Application in Agricultural Engineering | Research Function |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) | Land suitability analysis for agricultural terraces7 | Spatial planning and optimization |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Remote Sensing | Monitoring gully erosion and soil degradation4 | Environmental assessment and conservation |
| Response Surface Methodology (RSM) | Optimizing drying processes for agricultural products7 | Post-harvest technology and food preservation |
| Artificial Intelligence and Ensemble Models | Studying climate change impacts on agriculture4 | Climate adaptation and prediction |
| Creep Testing | Analyzing rheological properties of fruits7 | Food quality assessment and mechanization |
| Thermal Imaging | Stone detection in agricultural fields4 | Field preparation and equipment protection |
Environmental monitoring and assessment
Predictive modeling and optimization
Precision agriculture applications
Field analysis and equipment protection
The field continues to fragment into specialized subdisciplines. The authors of the comprehensive study noted that specialty journals (particularly bioenergy-focused ones) "are not directly comparable with the comprehensive agricultural engineering journals and should potentially be excluded from future versions of the JCR"1 . This suggests we may see a reorganization of how agricultural engineering research is categorized and evaluated.
Open access publishing continues to grow in importance. Clarivate reported that in the 2025 JCR release, over 6,200 journals were published via gold open access6 . This includes agricultural engineering journals like Research in Agricultural Engineering, which makes articles freely available while being financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic7 .
Research integrity is receiving increased attention. The 2025 JCR update excluded "citations to and from retracted content when calculating the JIF numerator," affecting about 1% of journals6 . This refinement helps ensure that citation metrics reflect legitimate scientific influence rather than problematic publications.
While journal metrics provide valuable insights into the research landscape, they represent just one dimension of a field's importance. The increasing specialization in agricultural engineering reflects its critical role in addressing global challenges—from food security to sustainable energy.
The dramatic growth in publications from China and other emerging scientific powers demonstrates how agricultural engineering has become truly global, with knowledge production no longer concentrated in traditional Western research hubs. This diversification of perspectives strengthens the field, bringing fresh approaches to longstanding challenges.
As agricultural engineering continues to evolve, its metrics will tell an increasingly complex story of international collaboration, interdisciplinary innovation, and scientific responses to some of humanity's most pressing problems. The numbers matter, but what counts most is their connection to real-world impact—more sustainable agriculture, efficient resource use, and technological solutions that benefit both farmers and consumers worldwide.