A Serious Game to Promote Water–Energy–Land–Food–People (WELFP) Nexus Perception and Encourage Pro-Environmental and Pro-Social Urban Agriculture

Sukanya Sereenonchai () and Noppol Arunrat
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Sukanya Sereenonchai: Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Noppol Arunrat: Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Urban agriculture is key to sustainable city development, particularly through public engagement with the Water–Energy–Land–Food–People (WELFP) Nexus. This study examines the effectiveness of serious games in enhancing WELFP understanding and promoting pro-environmental and pro-social behaviors. A game-based learning model was developed using the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) and Easy–Attractive–Social–Timely (EAST) frameworks, along with the Revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale. The model simulates real-world urban agriculture challenges to foster participatory decision-making. A survey of 200 urban agriculture practitioners, analyzed via structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 4.0), found that perceived timeliness (PT) and perceived usefulness (PU) significantly influenced both the perceived sustainable livelihood value (PT: p = 0.000; PU: p = 0.006) and users’ attitudes toward the game (PT: p = 0.000; PU: p = 0.038). While enjoyment positively affected attitude ( p = 0.002), it negatively impacted perceived value ( p = 0.002), revealing a trade-off between fun and practical relevance. Perceived ease of use improved perceived value ( p = 0.000) but did not affect attitude, suggesting emotional engagement matters more. Both attitude and perceived value strongly predicted users’ intention to engage with the game. Post-game reflections highlighted the need for cross-sector collaboration, strategic resource use, access to real-time data, and responsive crisis management. Participants also stressed the importance of public awareness, civic responsibility, and volunteerism in advancing community-driven sustainable agriculture. These findings highlight the need to balance engagement and educational depth in game-based learning for sustainability.

Keywords: WELFP nexus; pro-environmental behavior; pro-social behavior; urban agriculture; serious games; educational tool (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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