How to use The Baobab Index

Boolean search syntax

The advanced search accepts a Web of Science–style query language. You can target specific fields, combine clauses with logical operators, and use phrases or wildcards. Every example below is a working link — click to run it.

Field tags

Operators

• AND — both clauses must match. Adjacent terms imply AND.
• OR — either clause matches. Use to broaden a search across synonyms.
• NOT — excludes results matching the following clause.
• Group clauses with ( ) to control precedence.

Phrases, wildcards & ranges

• Wrap multi-word phrases in "double quotes" — e.g. "post-harvest losses".
• Use * as a wildcard suffix — ferment* matches ferment, fermentation, fermented.
• Year ranges: YR=2018-2024 (inclusive on both ends).

Saving & reusing searches

Researchers often return to the same handful of queries. The Baobab Index keeps two kinds of history for you on the search page.

1. Sign in from the top right, then run any query.
2. Click Save this search next to the query bar and give it a short name.
3. Open the History ▾ dropdown to reopen any saved search — sort and query are restored exactly.
4. Hover a saved entry and click × to delete it.

Open advanced search →

My Library

My Library is your personal workspace — available once you sign in. It gathers everything you want to keep an eye on in one place: email alerts, saved searches, and bookmarked papers.

Managing your library

• Pause or resume an alert with the Active/Paused toggle — paused alerts stop emailing you but stay saved.
• Delete any alert or saved search, or remove a bookmark, with one click.
• Everything in your library is private to your account, secured by row-level security.

Walkthrough: save a paper

1. Sign in from the top right — bookmarking requires an account.
2. Find a paper through search and open its abstract page.
3. Click the ☆ Bookmark button near the top of the paper. It turns into ★ Bookmarked to confirm.
4. Open My Library — the paper now appears under Bookmarked papers, where you can reopen it or click Remove.

Walkthrough: set up an email alert

There are two ways to create an alert. Both land in My Library, and both email you when new matching research is added.

From a search query

1. Sign in, then run any query on the search page.
2. Click 🔔 Email me new matches under the query bar.
3. Give the alert a short name when prompted. It confirms with Alert created ✓.

By following an author or topic

1. Open any abstract page while signed in.
2. Click 🔔 Follow next to an author, or 🔔 Follow “topic”.
3. You'll see Alert created ✓ with a link to manage it in My Library.

All alerts live under Email alerts in My Library, where you can pause, resume, or delete each one.

Open My Library →

Submitting an abstract

The index grows through community contributions. Any signed-in researcher can submit a peer-reviewed abstract for inclusion. Submissions are reviewed by editorial moderators before publication.

What you'll need

• Title and full author list
• Journal name and publication year
• Region and country of study
• Topic / primary keyword
• DOI (recommended — used for de-duplication)
• Abstract text (the published abstract, not the full paper)
• 3–8 keywords describing methods, crops, or themes

After you submit

Your submission goes into a moderation queue. Track its status — pending, published, or needs revision — from your dashboard. You'll be credited as the submitter on every entry you contribute.

Accounts & roles

You can browse the index without an account. Signing in unlocks contribution, saved searches, and your personal dashboard.

Signing up

Create an account with email and password, or continue with Google. You'll need to verify your email before signing in for the first time. New accounts default to the Researcher role.

Sign in or create an account →

Frequently asked questions