Sustainability news

Launch of the OECD WISE report on “Promoting Social Connectedness Through Food”

– Join the webinar to know more about how food-based activities can advance well-being

The OECD Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE) will host an online webinar to mark the launch of its new report, “Promoting Social Connectedness Through Food,” developed with the support of Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

In recent years, loneliness and social isolation have become increasingly prominent policy challenges worldwide. This report explores how activities related to food—from production and preparation to sharing meals—can provide meaningful opportunities to strengthen social connections within communities.
Drawing on a range of existing research and the analysis of local case studies, the report offers practical insights into how governments, civil society, community organizations, and private-sector actors can work together to support well-being through concrete initiatives rooted in everyday life.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. contributes more broadly to advancing the understanding of the relationship between food and subjective well-being through supporting research and accumulating knowledge on the importance of cooking and shared meals. These efforts highlight that food is not only a source of nutrition, but also a key element in fostering human connection and enhancing quality of life.
The insights gained from this report are closely aligned with one of the Ajinomoto Group’s key material themes, “achieving well-being through food.” Guided by its purpose of contributing to the well-being of all human beings, society, and our planet through “AminoScience,” the Group will continue to incorporate the report’s findings into its future initiatives.

The webinar will open with remarks from Yasushi Masaki, OECD Deputy Secretary-General and Shigeo Nakamura, CEO of the Ajinomoto Group, followed by a presentation of the report’s key findings by Romina Boarini, Director of the OECD WISE Centre and then a panel discussion featuring some representatives of the practical initiatives highlighted in the report’s case study section.

If you wish to know more about how food can help strengthen social connectedness, we warmly invite you to register and participate via the link below.
Webinar Registration – Zoom

Overview
Event details

Promoting Social Connectedness Through Food
2 July 2026 | 15:00–16:30 CEST
Online (Zoom Webinar)