AICASF 2026 · CBN Building and ICC, University of Port Harcourt · Aug 17–19

Authors' Submission Guidelines

2nd APRNet International Conference & Agrifood System Stakeholders' Forum

Accepted Format
PDF or Word (.doc/.docx)
Single-column · 1-inch margins
12pt Times New Roman
Key Deadline
June 1, 2026
Portal opens: May 25, 2026
Review Starts: May 28, 2026

Submission Requirements

1 Manuscript Preparation & Formatting
Anonymization Remove all identifying information — names, affiliations, email addresses, and acknowledgments — from the main manuscript to enable double-blind review.
Format Single-column PDF or Word (.doc/.docx) with 1-inch margins and 12-point font (Times New Roman recommended).
Page Length 10 to 27 pages, including tables and references.
Paper Structure Title  ·  Abstract (~300 words)  ·  Keywords  ·  Introduction  ·  Methodology  ·  Results  ·  Discussion  ·  Conclusion  ·  References
2 Submission Process — Step-by-Step Guide (Microsoft CMT)
Submission portal (Microsoft CMT):  https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/AICASF2026/  — opens May 25, 2026. No email submissions accepted.
1
Access the Submission Portal and Log In

Navigate to the CMT link: Go to https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/AICASF2026/

Account sign-in / registration: If you already have a CMT account, enter your credentials to log in. If not, click the "Register" link, fill in your personal details, and verify your account via the activation link sent to your email.

Email Profile Check: Once logged in, click your username in the top-right corner to access your profile. Make sure the option "Do not send me conference emails" is not checked — otherwise you will miss critical notifications regarding decisions, reviews, and revisions.
2
Initiate the Submission

Upon logging in you will be taken to your Author Console. Look to the top-left corner of your screen, just below the page title, and click the "+ Create New Submission" button.

Clicking this button will open a list. Select the specific track you wish to submit to.

3
Fill Out the Submission Form

A new page titled "Create New Submission" will open. Authors must populate the following fields:

A. Title and Abstract

Title: Type or paste your concise, informative paper title into the "Title" field.

Abstract: Type or paste your abstract directly into the "Abstract" text box.

Critical Rule: Do not upload your abstract as a PDF or Word file in this text box; it must be entered as plain text.
B. Co-Authors

Since you are logged in, the system automatically pre-populates your details and designates you as the Primary Contact. To add co-authors, go to the Authors section and click "+ Add". Enter the co-author's email address and click "Search":

  • If the co-author already has a CMT account: Their name and affiliation will pre-populate. Click "+ Add".
  • If they do not have a CMT account: The system will flag them as "Unregistered." You will be prompted to manually enter their First Name, Last Name, Organization, and Country as a placeholder.
Note on account requirements: Co-authors are not required to have a CMT account to receive automated reports, but they must register if they wish to access, view reviews, or edit the submission later.
C. Subject Areas

Scroll to the Subject Areas section and check the box next to your paper's Primary Subject Area. This acts as a thematic tag for the review assignment algorithms.

D. Custom Submission Questions

Complete all custom questions provided by the conference organisers in this section.

4
Upload the Manuscript File

Scroll to the Files section at the bottom of the form. Upload your file by either dragging and dropping it into the designated dotted region, or clicking the "Upload from Computer" button.

  • Format check: Make sure your file matches the allowed extensions (.docx or .pdf) and does not exceed the maximum file size.
  • Supplementary material: Upload any supplementary datasets, videos, or appendices under the designated Supplementary Material section.
5
Complete and Confirm Submission

Click the blue "Submit" or "Save Changes" button at the very bottom of the page. You will instantly be redirected to the Submission Summary page. On this page, verify:

  • Your unique Paper ID (displayed at the top).
  • The upload timestamp, file name, and file size.

Email confirmation: A submission confirmation report is automatically generated and emailed to all registered authors. You can also manually trigger a copy by clicking the "Email" button in the top-right corner of the summary page.

Click "Back to Author Console" to view your list of active submissions.

Editing after submission: You can modify or edit your submission parameters (including swapping files or adding authors) at any time until the submission deadline passes.
3 Review Process

All papers undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review. Reviewers evaluate submissions without knowing the authors' identities.

Criterion What Reviewers Assess
Technical MeritSoundness of methods and validity of analysis
OriginalityNew ideas, approaches, or significant findings
RelevanceAlignment with the conference theme and sub-themes
ClarityReadability, structure, and proper formatting
SignificancePractical or theoretical contribution to the field
4 Camera-Ready & Final Submission
Revisions Authors must incorporate all reviewer feedback into the final "camera-ready" version before the revised submission deadline.
Registration At least one author must register for the conference for the paper to be included in the proceedings.
Copyright Authors may be asked to sign a copyright transfer agreement. High-quality accepted papers will be published in Scopus-indexed book chapters.
5 Ethical & Technical Guidelines
AI Usage Use of any generative AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT) must be declared. Authors must state: (1) the tool name, (2) how it was used, and (3) why. Undisclosed AI use may affect acceptance.
Plagiarism Check All manuscripts are screened using iThenticate or equivalent. High similarity scores must be resolved before acceptance.
Conflict of Interest Authors must disclose any personal, financial, or professional conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its conclusions.

AI Usage Policy

The conference does not encourage or condone AI-generated abstract submissions. If a generative AI tool was used, you must disclose it clearly in your submission. Failure to do so may result in rejection or removal from the programme.

Abstract Submission Limits

You may submit a maximum of two abstracts, individually or as co-author. Do not submit duplicate or near-identical abstracts to different sections. Violations will result in removal from the programme.

Ready to Submit Your Paper?

Portal opens  May 25, 2026   ·  Submission deadline  June 30, 2026   ·  Review Deadline  July 10, 2026

Access the Submission Portal

For paper submission enquiries: pius.ike@dou.edu.ng  (cc: anthony.onoja@uniport.edu.ng)
For general conference information: mercy.onu@uniport.edu.ng