We formally unveiled the partnership today in Taipei at a Food & Agriculture Social Innovation Workshop, which we co-organised with
SEI and hosted at the IKEA Neihu store. The gathering was an official Fringe Day event for the
Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) 2025, hosted in Taiwan. The workshop brought together over 100 local and international ecosystem partners to exchange ideas and explore innovative solutions for building inclusive and resilient food systems.
Food and agriculture innovation: A catalyst for empowering vulnerable communities
As climate change continues to disrupt food systems, strengthening local, sustainable agriculture has become crucial to supporting marginalised groups and reducing environmental risks.
Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director of IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, traveled to Taiwan for the event and shared the team's global experience: "When we support entrepreneurs who are deeply rooted in local issues and connect them with IKEA Social Entrepreneurship's expertise and network, together we can contribute to real change."
The partnership with SEI in Taiwan builds on our experience in the region. To date, we've supported over 40 social enterprises in Indonesia and Malaysia, contributing to improving the livelihoods of people from vulnerable groups.
Martin Lindström, CEO of IKEA, DFI Retail Group, was also present and emphasised the commitment of IKEA Taiwan to the community: "We look forward to blending global experience with local insights to support Taiwan's promising food and agriculture social enterprises and create impact together."
Bridging global experience and local solutions through collective partnership
A key highlight of the event was an international experience sharing session featuring our programme partners in Asia: Instellar Impact in Indonesia and Biji-biji Initiative in Malaysia. We were also joined by the founder of Graze Market, a café focused on utilising imperfect produce and surplus food and a participant in our Malaysia accelerator programme.
They shared insights on how they leverage food innovation to create opportunities for vulnerable groups in Southeast Asia, offering valuable inspiration for Taiwan. Participants from Taiwan's food and agriculture ecosystem contributed perspectives that will help shape the roadmap for the 2026 accelerator programme, ensuring it meets local needs and opportunities.
Looking ahead to 2026: Scalable social impact
The partnership leverages SEI's local network and understanding, and the global resources and business expertise of IKEA Social Entrepreneurship. Together, we aim to support Taiwanese social enterprises in expanding their reach and translating their impact into concrete benefits such as job creation, inclusive sourcing, and community-driven services.
We look forward to further exploring this exciting region and, together with SEI, contributing to a better everyday life for people from vulnerable and marginalised groups in Taiwan.
Curious about our partners and programmes? Read more here.
