IKEA Denmark Launches “Seedballs” — Swedish Meatballs Designed For Insects

Few things are as iconic as the famed Swedish meatballs at IKEA, with the tasty, snack-sized treats having as big a fandom as the global retailer’s furniture itself. In a new partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), IKEA Denmark is now offering “seedballs,” a new plantable meatball that aims to help protect endangered insect species.

As reported by Hypebae, the new initiative will help raise awareness of biodiversity in Denmark, and the seedballs will hopefully help provide a safe habitat for insects who need one. Made of soil, clay, and wildflower seeds rolled into a ball that looks just like the famous meatballs, shoppers can then grow and foster their own seedball garden — they thrive in different environments, and once they’re watered, they’ll grow wild plants such as corncockles, chamomile, and poppies, all of which are important to preserving and growing insect wildlife.

It seems the seedballs are simple enough for even the most amateur of gardeners. Along with every seedball purchase, shoppers will score the “Swedish Seedballs At Home” guide, which gives buyers all the info they need to help create a “big meal for the hungry insects” — a much yummier and more sustainable meal than what they might find in the wild, which isn’t enough to keep them thriving.

In a statement announcing the partnership, Christian Mouroux, country communication manager at Ikea Denmark said, “It was important for us to create a campaign that could start a conversation about biodiversity, but also let people take part in the fight for more wild nature. The seedballs are a great way to do that, especially because they allow all ages to join in and get an understanding of an otherwise very complex issue.”

No word on whether or not these will be available to shoppers outside Denmark, but here’s hoping they make their way to the U.S. very soon.