The Power of Community-Driven Scholarly Communication: Publishing for Inclusive, Transparent, and Impactful

Emerging community-led publishing models, called "Diamond Open Access" initiatives, aim to provide unrestricted access to scholarly publications, enabling them to be freely read and published. These models have the potential to address challenges of inclusivity, diversity, and transparency in scholarly communication. Using the Journal of Horticultural Sciences as a case study, this presentation highlights the potential of Diamond Open Access to transform scholarly communication in the Global South. The AmeliCA/Redalyc initiative promotes non-commercial open access through inclusiveness, collaboration, capacity building, and advocacy, providing a viable alternative to traditional publishing models while still on par with commercial ones. Scholarly societies should recognize the importance of community-led initiatives and the need for greater collaboration to create a more equitable and just academic publishing landscape. The presentation also calls for increased government investment in these initiatives to foster greater collaboration among stakeholders and to rethink the current publishing model to better serve the needs of the scholarly community in the region. Through non-commercial Diamond Open Access, countries in the Global South can achieve greater visibility and recognition for their research output, contributing to the global knowledge commons in a more equitable and sustainable manner.