Identification and Control of the Geographic Origin of Plant Materials: Investigation of Ambient Influences and Environmental Selection

About this Research Topic

Background

Control of the claimed geographic origin of plant commodities like food and timber has become an important task as the origin of these commodities is relevant with respect to several issues. We can consider, for example, the implications for foods that carry a recognized Geographical Indication (GI). GI foods often have significantly higher prices than food which is grown in non-specific areas (e.g. sparkling wine from Champagne (France) as opposed to sparkling wine from a non-specific area; fruits, vegetables, and spices from certain regions, e.g. Saffron La Mancha (Spain) and Blue Mountain Coffee (Jamaica)).

Another issue that pertains to the geographic origin of food is for instances when contaminated, adulterated, and/or faked food has been found in markets and needs to be traced back to its (geographic) origin. A further issue is the import and export duty support structures that are in place for agricultural products from certain geographic origins. This is because cases have been identified where goods have been traded under these duty support structures that have actually been produced or grown outside of the specified supported geographic regions.

In addition to the debate surrounding food, control of the geographic origin of wood is a very important topic with respect to the protection of national parks, primeval forests, illegal logging, and all of its accompanying consequences. Controls over timber are not limited to developing countries but are carried out globally (and also in Europe and the EU). Furthermore, wood is used in many ways (from construction materials to tools, paper, veneer, and even jewelry) for a very long time and thus there exists a multitude of interests to investigate its geographic origin. Various methodical approaches, from genetic to isotope studies have been applied so far and will be presented.

The method of choice for the identification and verification of geographic origin covers a wide range of research; isotopic composition, element concentrations, genetic variation, and many others. Generally, to identify the geographic origin, there are two main approaches:

1. Environmental influences (including geology)

Most of the methods applied to investigate differences in the ambient environment which influence a plant. These influences are archived in the plant materials e.g. variations in element concentrations due to differences in soil and bedrock, fertilizers, and emissions (natural and anthropogenic), among many other influences. These variations can affect the physiology of plant materials like wood and foods.

Variations in isotope ratios can result from a multitude of influencing factors e.g. the influence of climate and weather on H- and O- isotopes, but also agricultural practice and water origin. Influence of fertilizers, agricultural practice, geographic positions but also plant metabolism on N-isotope ratios and the influence of emissions, soil, geology, and fertilizers on sulfur- Pb- and Sr- isotopes.

Concerning the investigation of isotope ratios of unconventional elements (which are also increasingly applied for provenance investigations) the influencing processes are extremely diverse - and in most cases not yet sufficiently investigated.

Variations in concentrations of organic compounds in plant material are usually caused by a plant’s reaction to ambient influences and are thus also environmentally driven. Infrared-related and NMR screening techniques dominantly measure the concentrations of organic and inorganic compounds and substances but in a screening (and thus integrating) mode. Identified differences between different geographic origins are thus recorded as an overall picture.

2. Genetic/molecular relatedness of individuals

Molecular analysis related to geographic origin base on the assumption that geographically nearer individuals are usually closely related to each other than distant individuals.

This Research Topic aims to attract contributions from a wide range of research fields to bring together a range of analytical methods and their applications, such as, but not limited to:
• Research on the geographic origin of various plant commodities, applying different analytical methods;
• Comparison and combination of different methods and techniques concerning identification and control of geographic origin;
• Studies regarding environmental influences and their impact on the physiology of food and wood, and the respective plant archives;
• Pilot studies applying new techniques for identification of geographic origin;
• Studies concerning the causes of geographic differences in food and wood, and the influences of processing, storage, etc. on the potential of analytical methods, and any studies into further problems and possibilities in provenance research.

Manuscripts submitted to this Research Topic can have one of a number of formats: original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews on specific topics, reviews of recent books, or short opinion pieces. Contributions from various areas and fields of research are welcome to demonstrate the variability of approaches towards research and, ultimately, control of geographic origin.

Keywords: Geographic Origin, Identification, Plant Materials, environmental influences

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.