Culinary Festival: Research-Based Learning Approach in Nature School to Improve Food Security Awareness

Background/purpose. Food security is a critical global issue intensified by climate change, economic pressures, and geopolitical instability, resulting in disrupted food supply chains and increased food prices. Research-based learning in nature schools offers innovative approaches to fostering food security awareness through immersive experiences and community engagement activities such as annual culinary festivals. This study aims to explore in-depth research-based learning integrated into culinary festivals as a nature school activity to enhance students' understanding and awareness of food security. Materials/methods. This research was conducted through an instrumental case study using a qualitative approach at Kahuripan Ecology Elementary School, Purwakarta Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Data collection methods encompassed observation, interview, focused-group discussion, document, and questionnaire. The total participants were 360 students, 20 teachers, and respondents for in-depth interviews and focused-group discussions comprised of 60 students and six teachers. Results. Results imply that nature school activity, specifically culinary festival, includes multiple stages that align with the principles of research conduct, leading to students' engagement in inquiry, experiential, discovery, and problem-based learning. Students' understanding and awareness of food security is confirmed, implying the nature of the school role is conceptualized within a foundation to support sustainability and food security system in the local context. Conclusion. Research-based culinary festival exemplifies how integrating natural resources and community collaboration can enhance students’ understanding of food security through experiential learning. This innovative approach fosters practical knowledge and collective action, emphasizing sustainable practices to address food security challenges on both local and global scales.