| dc.description.abstract | This study examines the influence of Food and Agricultural Education (FAE) on consumer knowledge,
attitudes, and behavioral intentions, with a specific focus on the socio-economic factors of occupation and
income. Growing concerns over food safety, dietary health, and environmental sustainability, particularly
under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have heightened the
importance of understanding how education can shape consumer decision-making and sustainable
consumption patterns. A structured questionnaire was designed with four sections: demographic information,
knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions, measured using a five-point Likert scale. Employing a
longitudinal research design, data were initially collected through an online survey, yielding 300 valid
responses, and subsequently expanded to 552 valid responses. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, ANOVA,
and Scheffé post-hoc tests, were conducted to evaluate differences across socio-demographic groups and to
test five hypotheses (H1–H5) related to the impact of FAE. The results demonstrated that FAE significantly
enhanced consumer knowledge of food production, sustainable systems, and agricultural practices, confirming
H1–H3. Consumers developed more positive attitudes toward sustainable agriculture, organic products, and
local food consumption, and expressed stronger intentions to support sustainable purchasing behaviors. The
analysis further revealed that occupation and income were significantly associated with variations in consumer
responses, supporting Hypotheses 4 and 5. Occupation was particularly influential in shaping behavioral
intentions, while income played a stronger role in attitudinal differences. The longitudinal comparison between
the 300- and 552-sample datasets confirmed the robustness and stability of the findings, underscoring the longterm
impact of FAE on consumer behavior. These findings reinforce the relevance of theoretical models such as
the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) framework and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in
explaining how education influences consumer decision-making. Overall, this study provides empirical
evidence that FAE plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable consumption and food safety, highlighting the
need to tailor educational strategies to socio-economic and gender differences. This offers practical
implications for policymakers, educators, and agricultural stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable
food systems and a low-carbon future. | en_US |
