At IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, we aim to create a better everyday life for people from vulnerable and marginalised communities. Through programmes like the I-SEA Accelerator, co-created with Instellar and supported by IKEA Indonesia, we support social enterprises that positively impact people and the planet in their local communities.
Since 2022, I-SEA has supported 20 social enterprises across Indonesia, providing them with tools, mentorship, and funding to scale their impact. Last year, we launched the second edition of the programme, deepening our focus on enterprises that empower smallholder farmers, women, Indigenous communities, and at-risk youth to live better everyday lives.
Agridesa, a social enterprise participating in the current I-SEA cohort, is a prime example of this mission in action. The enterprise equips local farmers to tackle uncertainties and improve productivity through data-driven farming and integrated digital solutions.
Together with Agridesa, we invited IKEA co-workers from Indonesia to Bali to experience firsthand how sustainability and entrepreneurship can transform communities.
Connecting co-workers and communities
Front Day Sustainability, an extension of IKEA's Front Days tradition, brings IKEA co-workers closer to the communities we serve. It's a mutual exchange: co-workers gain insights into social entrepreneurship and local sustainability efforts, while social enterprises benefit from their expertise and support. During the visit, co-workers from IKEA Bali and the IKEA Indonesia sustainability team explored Agridesa's work with local farmers.
The day began at Agridesa's headquarters in Gianyar, where IKEA co-workers learned about its mission and enjoyed local Balinese hospitality. They then travelled to baby spinach farms in Tabanan, where they saw Agridesa's digital tools in action and how the enterprise supports farmers in overcoming challenges and improving yields.
"I feel proud to meet the farmers and see the progress they are making with Agridesa's support," shared Ni Md Dwi Jayanti, an IKEA co-worker. "The use of technology clearly enables them to meet market demands and improve their livelihoods."
Sweet lessons in sustainability
The day also included a visit to Cau Chocolates, one of Agridesa's key partners. Known for producing organic chocolate, Cau Chocolates collaborates with Agridesa to rehabilitate cacao farms using agroforestry practices. After lunch at Desa Coklat Bali, a restaurant owned by Cau Chocolates, IKEA co-workers explored the cacao production process, from fermentation to chocolate-making, and saw how sustainable practices can revitalise ageing plantations.
IKEA co-worker I Gusti Putu Angga Wijaya shared, "I am amazed by the Agridesa team who always help the farmers. No matter how small the assistance is, it turns out to have a very big impact on them." For him, joining Front Day Sustainability strengthened the awareness that sustainable positive change can be realised for people who depend on the agricultural sector with the right approach and adequate support.
Empowering people and driving change
Front Day Sustainability is all about shared learning and collaboration. By connecting with social enterprises like Agridesa, IKEA co-workers bring our core values—such as "Togetherness" and "Care for People and the Planet"—to life. These experiences inspire our teams and strengthen our commitment to empowering communities through social entrepreneurship and the IKEA business.We're exploring more opportunities for co-workers to visit the social enterprises we support in our other programmes.
Stay tuned for more information, and join our community on Teams to be the first to know!
