Editorial Spotlight: Rachid Bouharroud

Dr. Rachid Bouharroud is an entomologist and head of the R&D unit at INRA-Agadir in Morocco, with over 15 years of experience. His research focuses on integrated pest management of the main pests of tomatoes, citrus, argan trees, and more recently, prickly pears and red fruits. He specializes in biopesticides based on plant and bacterial extracts, biological control, side effects on non-target insects, and cultural practices. He has published more than 120 papers, 10 book chapters, and more than 140 conference communications.

Here, he discusses the varied benefits of his role as an Academic Editor with PLOS, exciting new developments in his research, and provides three top tips for early-career researchers.

Serving in [the PLOS One Academic Editor] role is an opportunity to contribute as much as I can to uphold quality and objectivity in a world where misinformation disseminates quickly.

Rachid Bouharroud

Your research spans a range of plant stress and integrated pest management (IPM) topics. What is the most exciting area in your field at the moment?

My current fascination as a researcher in biotic stresses and IPM is the development of sustainable and eco-friendly solutions that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. Since monitoring, considered a keystone of IPM approaches, is labor-intensive, precision smart tools and the Internet of Things (IoT) have become more essential to prevent pest outbreaks and act without delay. For decision support system purposes, they are also very useful at the simulation and forecasting level. I’m excited to collaborate with IoT experts to fine-tune a system for pest and disease identification and monitoring.

Finally, one of the most traditional and reliable control methods is cultivar resistance, especially for specific plant species such as the argan tree and cactus pear. Indeed, the biodiversity richness of plants and pollinators is crucial for developing new resistant varieties.

What motivates you to contribute as an Editorial Board member for PLOS One?

First and foremost, my motivation to contribute as an Academic Editor for PLOS One is that it allows me to engage with cutting-edge research and interact with peers. I’m driven by the chance to stay at the forefront of my field and acquire a deeper understanding of emerging trends and innovations. Serving in this role is an opportunity to contribute as much as I can to uphold quality and objectivity in a world where misinformation disseminates quickly. Being an Academic Editor with an open-access journal like PLOS One gives me an opportunity to directly impact the quality of published research and ensure that well-conducted studies are published. I’m also excited to contribute in an indirect manner as a mentor to shape early-career researchers. Additionally, handling submitted manuscripts from varied horizons allows me to promote diversity, inclusion, transparent dissemination, and ethical practices within the scientific publishing process.

What piece of advice would you give to early-career researchers in your field?

 There are many classic pieces of advice for early-career researchers working in the plant protection and IPM field, but from my modest background, my advice can be distilled in three key points:

1.           Credibility supported by robust and rigorous methodology;

2.           Be patient and don’t fall into the trap of publishing a high number of papers in a short time. Scientific rigor is more valuable than a high number of publications;

3.           Focus more on applied research based on inter-disciplinary approaches that support farmers more efficiently.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by contributors are solely those of individual contributors, and not necessarily those of PLOS.