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Beyond Food and Creating New Values: Ajinomoto Group and its ‘AminoScience’ Revolution

Article - January 31, 2025

A company transforming into a global leader in 'AminoScience,' Ajinomoto Group aims to fulfill its purpose of “contributing to the well-being of all human beings, our society and our planet” through innovative amino acid applications. 

By Paul Mannion and Bernard Thompson


 

Imagine a world where the key to health and sustainability lies not just in what we eat, but in the very building blocks of life—amino acids. Ajinomoto Co., Inc., under the leadership of President Taro Fujie, is pioneering this transformation, leveraging over a century of expertise to redefine health and industry through 'AminoScience.'

Established in 1909, Ajinomoto Co. has always held a philosophy of solving social issues to generate economic value, using profit to tackle even larger problems. This approach is encapsulated in its Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV) initiatives.

"We are fully committed to two important outcomes. First is extending the healthy life expectancy of one billion people, while the other is the reduction of environmental impact by 50 percent," Mr. Fujie explains. "With regards to the extension of healthy lifespans, we are promoting what we call the 'Nutrition Without Compromise' approach, particularly by reducing the amount of sodium intake and increasing the amount of protein, while maintaining a delicious taste. For example, through the use of our umami seasoning that makes vegetables taste delicious."

Already widely recognized for its food products, the company is expanding its horizons beyond the kitchen. Its ‘AminoScience’ also delves into applications of amino acids technologies and expertise in health care and other areas, including biopharmaceuticals and even the semiconductor industry.

"This is really a collective term for the various materials, functions, technologies and services derived from research and implementation processes of amino acids utilizing our scientific approach," explains the president. And in terms of modern technology, the company’s influence could be described as profound even though this can often go unseen.

"Our product, called Ajinomoto Build-up Film® (ABF), is utilized in semiconductors as insulation material," Mr. Fujie says. "We have a more than 95 percent share of this film worldwide, which means that anyone reading this may well be one of our customers without actually being aware of it."

This significant presence in the semiconductor industry underscores the company's commitment to innovation and diversification. The digital segment is growing rapidly, and Ajinomoto Co. sees it as one of the driving forces for future business performance. In the biopharmaceutical field, it is investing in promising areas such as the oligonucleotide CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) business, as well as others including gene therapy CDMO, regenerative medicine, antibody culture media and medical food.

"For example, we believe that oligonucleotide drugs will become one of the modalities capable of targeting diseases that could not be treated by small molecule drugs," says Mr. Fujie. "We have proprietary technology called liquid-phase synthesis (AJIPHASE®), which contributes to steady supply through industrial-scale mass production using conventional manufacturing equipment for small molecule CDMO."

To ensure achievements in its ambitious ASV initiatives, Ajinomoto Group is reshaping its corporate strategies. Upon taking the helm in April 2020, during the challenging onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Fujie initiated a 100-day plan to accelerate structural reforms. Recognizing the limitations of medium-term management plans, he took bold steps to enhance agility and execution.

"I made a decision to do away with our conventional medium-term management plan," he reveals, with the company now setting more challenging and ambitious targets, focusing on dynamic growth and innovation.

Another crucial element in Ajinomoto Group's success is its emphasis on human resources. The company's approach to recruitment and training allows it to cultivate its proprietary technologies and expertise. By hiring fresh graduates and nurturing their talents over time, it maintains a strong pipeline of capable researchers and engineers.



"Among students with engineering backgrounds, I believe our company is very popular and frequently ranked among the top companies, giving us opportunities to continue to grow," the president says.

As mentioned, sustainability and environmental responsibility are also at the forefront of Ajinomoto Group’s agenda. One example of this is Ajinomoto Co.’s product AjiPro®-L, a lysine formulation for dairy and beef cattle, which is earning recognition as a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cattle as well as bringing down feed costs, leading to collaboration with partners such as Danone, Meiji Group and the Kagoshima Prefectural Government.

“We estimate that by using AjiPro®-L, greenhouse gases could be reduced by approximately 10 percent,” explains the president. Addressing the significant environmental impact of the dairy and beef industries, Mr. Fujie notes the product’s contribution to global efforts to combat climate change: “The biggest emitter of greenhouse gases is the energy industry, but that is followed by cattle. We want to make this segment another of our pillars alongside our semiconductor activities.”

Ajinomoto Group's commitment to health extends to combating social issues like aging populations. Its amino acid-based supplements and ingredients provide support for the elderly, such as their motor and cognitive functions. It also provides a disease risk screening service called AminoIndex, which uses amino acid analysis to evaluate risks of lifestyle-related diseases and cancer, helping early diagnosis and intervention.

While the company continues to innovate across various industries, it is also addressing misconceptions about its oldest and most iconic seasoning and flavor enhancer, AJI-NO-MOTO®, a monosodium glutamate (MSG) product. In the U.S., Ajinomoto Co. launched the ‘Know MSG’ campaign to educate consumers and dispel myths stemming from the 1968 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' rumor—"a baseless claim that Chinese food and MSG lead to negative health effects," states Mr. Fujie.

"First of all, we need to emphasize that it is a scientifically proven fact that MSG has no hazardous effect on health when used as intended," the president continues. "By highlighting the natural fermentation process of MSG, derived from cane sugar or tapioca starch, and promoting the deliciousness of umami flavors, especially among younger generations, we aim to make it both understood and fashionable. We will continue our communication initiatives on the safety and benefits of MSG."

Looking ahead, the company envisions a balanced portfolio where its food products and bio/fine chemicals segments each contribute equally. "The objective is to make it 50-50, but this is not an objective in itself," explains Mr. Fujie. "We want this to be a natural progression as a result of various business activities. Our aim is to create a highly profitable, unique and robust structure by creating high-margin businesses and increasing profitability through growth.”

Despite its vast expansion, the company's core mission remains focused on enhancing well-being. "My purpose as president is to fill the world with the essence of happiness, creating good well-being for all," Mr. Fujie says. "In order to achieve this, it is important to speed up and scale up our activities."

With a strategic focus on innovation, sustainability and human resources, Ajinomoto Group is well positioned to lead in various industries beyond food and wellness. Its commitment to harnessing the potential of amino acids promises advancements in health care, information and communication technology, and green solutions.

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