Message from the Executive Officer in Charge of Sustainability

The Purpose of the Ajinomoto Group is to contribute to the well-being of all human beings, our society and our planet with "AminoScience." Sustainability is at the heart of the Ajinomoto Group’s ASV management. Our 2030 Roadmap shows how we are advancing initiatives aligned with the Six Material Themes identified as important issues (Materiality).
With three years to go until 2030, and looking ahead to post-2030, we continue to reduce negative impacts of our business activities, while leveraging our strength in "AminoScience" in cooperation with stakeholders to develop technologies, knowledge, products, and services that generate positive impacts on society. Through these approaches, we strengthen the resilience of our business foundation while working consistently toward creating a healthy and prosperous society, healthier and more fulfilling lifestyles, and the sustained enhancement of corporate value.

In 2025, the world experienced extreme weather events, wildfires, and other disasters across many regions. According to scientists, the oceans and forests may be undergoing major changes in their capacity to absorb CO2 and heat, as well as to act as a buffer for the entire planet. These predictions point to the need for society as a whole to maintain and restore nature.
Our responsibility is to preserve a bountiful natural environment and a healthy society for future generations. This responsibility is essential for sustainable business activities. Climate change, biodiversity, the circular economy, nutritionally balanced diets, and human rights are among the many interconnected issues that we must address in an integrated manner. We seek to create an even greater positive impacts through our business activities, leveraging our strengths in science and technology that we have cultivated globally and business operations that actively embrace local cultures and customs. Toward this end, we collaborate with global and local stakeholders, including scientists, policy makers, and business leaders.

Our business is built on well-functioning agrifood systems that produce and consume food resources, and on the bountiful natural environment that sustains this system. Agrifood systems face environmental changes, while contributing significantly to the loss of natural capital at the same time. Meanwhile, one-third of the world's food is wasted. Further, 2.8 billion people have no access to healthy food. The hidden costs associated with unhealthy diets have been reported to be as much as 10% of global GDP.
We must transform the agrifood systems in many ways while creating diverse opportunities for business and employment. In particular, adaptation to environmental change and the restoration of natural capital, both essential to stabilizing the climate, represent two pressing issues. Given that amino acids are essential components of all living organisms, the science of amino acids has significant potential to contribute broadly to solving these issues.
The Ajinomoto Group is committed to improving local environments and the livelihoods of farmers. One key initiative we have pursued for many years to this end is supporting agricultural and livestock production by recycling fermentation co-products into fertilizers and animal feed, thereby returning nutrients to the soil. We have built on these activities over the past several years to expand businesses with the potential to transform the agriculture and livestock industries. We continue working to provide nutritionally balanced diets, reduce food loss and waste, and improve well-being through food, prevention, care, and healthcare solutions across the world—without compromising on food culture or taste.
In 2025, I engaged extensively in dialogue with like-minded companies, financial institutions, and international organizations at the UN Food System Summit, EAT Forum, COP30, and other forums. These experiences reinforced my strong conviction regarding collaboration to implement and scale up our common efforts. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders and partners who share our vision to address these challenges, leveraging our tangible and intangible assets that we have developed through "AminoScience."