Together with Society, Sustainably Contributing to Improving Nutrition through Eating Well The Ajinomoto Foundation, Established by Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Receives Public Interest Authorization

TOKYO, April 3, 2017 – Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (“Ajinomoto Co.”) announces that The Ajinomoto Foundation, which it established as a general incorporated foundation in August 2016 to contribute to improving nutrition through eating well, was authorized as a public interest incorporated foundation on April 1, 2017. Social business and activities to contribute to society through eating well that were previously conducted by Ajinomoto Co. will be transferred to the foundation, and Ajinomoto Co. will contribute to resolving social issues in countries around the world through support for the foundation. This is the third public interest incorporated foundation established by Ajinomoto Co., following Ajinomoto Scholarship Foundation and Ajinomoto Foundation for Dietary Culture.

Improving nutrition has been designated as a core issue in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030, which were adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. It is difficult for companies to single-handedly resolve such a social issue, emphasizing the importance of finding solutions in cooperation with local communities and the international community, including national and regional governments and non-profit organizations.

Ajinomoto Co.’s business began in 1909 when umami, which had been discovered in 1908 by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda, who had a strong desire to "improve the nutrition of the Japanese people," was commercialized as umami seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO® by Saburosuke Suzuki II, the company’s founder. His founding spirit of “Eat Well, Live Well,” has been passed down continuously for more than a century. Ajinomoto Co. aims to contribute to healthy lives in countries and regions around the world through its businesses. It has also been involved in social contribution activities including support for disaster area reconstruction, and nutritional improvement businesses in low-income countries and regions. The Ajinomoto Foundation will take over these activities to deepen cooperation with local communities and the international community, including national and regional governments and non-profit organizations, and to increase the sustainability of social business and activities that contribute to society through eating well into the future.

Ajinomoto Co. aims to help resolve social issues through its businesses and to help people around the world lead healthy lives through its support of this foundation, the goal of which is to contribute to improving nutrition through eating well.

1. Nutritional improvement business in low-income countries

Support for improving the nutrition of mothers and children in target countries through research, development, manufacturing and sales of nutritional foods suitable for the local diet, and through the spreading of information on nutrition(KOKO PlusTM nutritional supplement for baby food in Ghana and other subjects)

2. Food and nutritional support business (AIN^* program)

* AIN: Ajinomoto International Cooperation Network for Nutrition and Health
Financial assistance and provision of know-how to groups with exceptional areas of focus and execution capabilities for conducting sustainable businesses that provide support and solutions aimed at contributing to people in low-income countries and regions, especially those with food, nutrition and health issues that require improvement

3. Dietician training project in low-income countries

Establishment of a system for accrediting recipients of an undergraduate degree in nutrition education as dieticians and appropriately dispatching them to educational facilities (schools, public health centers, etc.) and workplaces (hospitals, large food service facilities, etc.) to help improve the hygiene and health of citizens of target countries through nutrition education similar to that provided in high-income countries, development and provision of nutritionally balanced meal menus, and other means (support for the establishment of a system for dieticians in Vietnam, etc.)

4. Support for disaster area reconstruction (Health and Nutrition Seminars)

Support for participatory health and nutrition seminars using a mobile kitchen according to local needs in cooperation with local governments, social welfare councils, non-profit organizations and other NGOs.

Ajinomoto Co. is a global manufacturer of high-quality seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. For many decades Ajinomoto Co. has contributed to food culture and human health through wide-ranging application of amino acid technologies. Today, the company is becoming increasingly involved with solutions for improved food resources, human health and global sustainability. Founded in 1909 and now operating in 28 countries and regions, Ajinomoto Co. had net sales of JPY 1,185.9 billion (USD 9.87 billion) in fiscal 2015. For more about Ajinomoto Co. (TYO: 2802), visit www.ajinomoto.com.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Public Communications Department; pr_info@ajinomoto.com