diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ad2b273..0c4ab95 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
     "test": "vitest run",
     "db:migrate": "node scripts/migrate.js",
     "db:seed": "node scripts/seed.js",
-    "db:setup": "node scripts/migrate.js && node scripts/seed.js"
+    "db:seed:roadmap": "node scripts/seed-roadmap.js",
+    "db:setup": "node scripts/migrate.js && node scripts/seed.js && node scripts/seed-roadmap.js"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@astrojs/node": "^8.3.0",
diff --git a/scripts/seed-roadmap.js b/scripts/seed-roadmap.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06abe6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/seed-roadmap.js
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+// Parse content/roadmap.md → roadmap_items rows. Idempotent: only seeds if
+// the table is empty. Once admin starts managing roadmap via /admin, the
+// markdown is no longer the source of truth — but it stays in the repo as
+// the initial-seed reference.
+
+import Database from 'better-sqlite3';
+import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
+import { join, dirname } from 'path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
+
+const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const dbPath = process.env.BIFROST_DB_PATH ?? join(__dirname, '..', 'bifrost.db');
+const mdPath = join(__dirname, '..', 'content', 'roadmap.md');
+
+const db = new Database(dbPath);
+db.pragma('foreign_keys = ON');
+
+const existing = db.prepare('SELECT COUNT(*) AS n FROM roadmap_items').get().n;
+if (existing > 0) {
+  console.log(`  roadmap_items already populated (${existing} rows) — skipping seed.`);
+  db.close();
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const md = readFileSync(mdPath, 'utf8');
+
+// Section → status mapping.
+// Markdown sections "In progress" / "Next" / "Later" map to the council-portal
+// schema's three statuses. In-progress items are actively being built and
+// tested with pilots → beta. Next/Later are roadmap intent, not started → exploring.
+const SECTION_STATUS = {
+  'In progress': { status: 'beta',      target: null },
+  'Next':        { status: 'exploring', target: 'Next quarter' },
+  'Later':       { status: 'exploring', target: 'Later this year' },
+};
+
+const items = [];
+let currentSection = null;
+let sectionDisplayOrder = 0;
+
+for (const rawLine of md.split('\n')) {
+  const line = rawLine.trim();
+  const h2 = line.match(/^##\s+(.+)$/);
+  if (h2) {
+    currentSection = h2[1].trim();
+    sectionDisplayOrder = 0;
+    continue;
+  }
+  if (!currentSection || !SECTION_STATUS[currentSection]) continue;
+
+  // Format: **Title** — description text. Optional `pilot-only` flag at end.
+  const m = line.match(/^\*\*([^*]+)\*\*\s*[—-]\s*(.+)$/);
+  if (!m) continue;
+
+  sectionDisplayOrder += 10;
+  const title = m[1].trim();
+  let description = m[2].trim();
+  // strip trailing ` `pilot-only` ` flag; admin can re-add via UI if wanted
+  description = description.replace(/`pilot-only`\s*$/, '').trim();
+
+  items.push({
+    title,
+    description,
+    status: SECTION_STATUS[currentSection].status,
+    target: SECTION_STATUS[currentSection].target,
+    display_order: sectionDisplayOrder,
+  });
+}
+
+const insert = db.prepare(`
+  INSERT INTO roadmap_items (title, description, status, target, display_order)
+  VALUES (?,?,?,?,?)
+`);
+
+const tx = db.transaction(() => {
+  for (const it of items) {
+    insert.run(it.title, it.description, it.status, it.target, it.display_order);
+  }
+});
+tx();
+
+console.log(`  seeded ${items.length} roadmap items from content/roadmap.md`);
+db.close();