Formulating a Public Policy Model to Enhance Awareness of Healthy Food Practices through Social Participation: Evidence from Indonesia

Pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits pose serious health risks, including digestive disorders, respiratory problems, reproductive impairments, and life-threatening diseases such as cancer. This study aims to develop a public policy model that promotes awareness and adoption of healthy food practices, particularly the consumption of pesticide-residue-free food. The research assessed community participation in outreach programs addressing pesticide hazards and examined its relationship with knowledge and food practices. Using a total sampling technique, members of the Association of Women Farming Groups in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, were surveyed. The findings show that participants demonstrated high levels of engagement in extension activities, strong knowledge of pesticide hazards in commonly consumed food, and active involvement in producing, consuming, and promoting pesticide-residue-free food. Chi-square analysis confirmed significant associations between participation and knowledge, as well as between knowledge and practice. However, participation levels remained influenced by education, while both education level and membership duration significantly affected knowledge and healthy food practices. These results suggest that policy models should prioritize strengthening social participation by expanding community access to local resources, involving multiple stakeholders, and utilizing informal approaches to build social bonds and supportive environments. Incorporating local wisdom and community-based institutions can foster bottom-up transformational participation, bridge gaps between knowledge and practice, and mitigate the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on healthy food behavior.