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Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility

Achievement by 2020: 5) Partnerships and Public Communications

Ajinomoto is determined to become more involved in public concerns and leverage its unique strengths to help solve social issues.

Nutritional Improvement Initiatives through the AIN Program

AIN program receives the Special Corporate Philanthropy Award for its nutritional improvement initiatives

Strongly committed to contributing to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)1, the Ajinomoto Group provides support to international cooperative projects carried out by NGOs, NPOs, and universities to improve the nutritional status of people in developing countries through the Ajinomoto International Cooperation Network for Nutrition and Health (AIN) program. Rooted in the indigenous environment, economy, and culture of each local community, the AIN program enables local people to easily carry out its activities on a daily basis. As a result, this kind of initiative has a high degree of sustainability and potential for community development. In fiscal 2008, marking the tenth year of the AIN program, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. received the Corporate Philanthropy Award Special Prize (Global Coexistence Award) from the Japan Philanthropic Association. The company was commended for serving as a model global enterprise in the area of CSR. The Ajinomoto Group will continue creating better lives globally by contributing to significant advances in Food and Health and by working for life.

1. UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Eight goals that respond to the world's main development challenges, based on the Millennium Declaration adopted at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. The goals are to: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.

Overview of the AIN program

The Ajinomoto International Cooperation Network for Nutrition and Health (AIN) program was launched on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the company to contribute to food, nutrition and healthcare-related fields.

Target regions:
Asia and South America
Number of projects:
38 in 12 countries (December 1999 to April 2009)
Selection procedure:
Applications from NPOs in and outside Japan are selected based on a review by an expert panel and a site inspection by employees of the Ajinomoto Group
   

Nutritional seminar in an Indian village (Photo: Asian Sustainable Holistic Approach)

  

Indonesian children eating nutritional meals (Photo: PH-Japan Foundation)

  

Corporate Philanthropy Award ceremony

Click here for more details: Global Activities

Countries where the AIN program conducts projects

Countries where the AIN program conducts projects

Major AIN-supported projects in fiscal 2008 — 2009

New AIN-supported project
Malaysia: Program to Empower Indigenous Orang Asli Women with Health and Nutrition Knowledge to Improve the Health and Nutrition of Young Children (2009 — 2011)

Implementing organization:
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Project overview:
Improvement of the nutrition and health of children through the development of local nutritional programs, training female community volunteers, and promotion of community volunteer activities
Main activities:
  1. (1) Conduct and analyze a needs survey
  2. (2) Interview beneficiaries
  3. (3) Develop nutritional programs
  4. (4) Provide training for community volunteers
  5. (5) Monitor and evaluate progress
     

A group of mothers are interviewed.

  

A child suffering from malnourishment

  

Clothing was donated to an indigenous family from employees of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad

  

Members of the indigenous community, persons involved in the project, and employees of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad

Ongoing AIN-supported project
India: Project for Improvement of Nutrition and Mother and Child Care in Periphery Villages (2008 — 2010)

Implementing organization:
Asian Sustainable Holistic Approach (ASHA), in cooperation with the College of Continuing & Non Formal Education, Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University
Main activities:
  1. (1) Taking body measurements of children (20 — 40 children in each of six villages)
  2. (2) Holding nutrition classes for women (20 — 40 women in each of six villages)
  3. (3) Training health volunteers (about 10 women) to support rural women
Activity outcomes:
Improving knowledge of nutrition and its application among rural women; improving nutritional status of infants; and improving the ability of health volunteers to solve problems
     

An infant's body is measured.

  

A volunteer holds a nutrition class on breast milk.

  

Volunteers participate in a training session.

  

Mothers attend a breast-feeding class.

Photos provided by ASHA


Completed AIN-supported project
Ecological Cooking Recipes for Kids and Amazon Rainforest Conservation (2008 — 2009)

Implementing organization:
ARCO IRIS, in cooperation with local NGO KEEP
Main activities:
  1. (1) Developed recipes for the home cooking of green nuts, a traditional Peruvian Amazonian food, and held processed foods tasting events
  2. (2) Held nutrition seminars for mothers and workshops at schools
  3. (3) Conducted basic research on mixed feed containing green nut curd, a byproduct after pressing oil from green nuts
Activity outcomes:
A foundation was established for the independent development of the program, a recipe book was completed, and relationships with groups from various sectors were strengthened
     

Women work to create a recipe.

  

Children attend a tasting event at school.

  

A specialist from the Ajinomoto Foundation in Peru gives a seminar on nutrition.

  

Cooking is practiced at a workshop.

Photos provided by ARCO IRIS



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