“Ajinomoto” Launches the “Sustainable Food System” to Achieve its 2025 Sustainability Goals

     On February 24, 2025, Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., a global food company leader, has unveiled its 2025 sustainability plan, emphasizing the “Sustainable Food System” principle to promote a balanced ecosystem across four key dimensions. As the food industry evolves, food and beverage manufacturers must adopt clear operational strategies to ensure sustainability from upstream to downstream. The company is accelerating efforts in carbon reduction through systematic verification and by enhancing the “Thai Farmer Better Life Partner” project, supporting coffee farmers in improving their quality of life, thereby contributing ‘Eat Well, Live Well.’ to both society and Thai farmers.

     Mr. Smith Phetdi, Sustainability Promotion Department Manager, Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., said, “Ajinomoto’s core mission is ‘Creating Sustainability for the Food Business.’ We are committed to expanding our business by leveraging our expertise in ‘AminoScience’ to develop exceptional food innovations that deliver both delicious taste and good nutrition, while also minimizing environmental impacts and promoting ecological restoration. By 2025, Ajinomoto aims to focus on the ‘Sustainable Food System’ with four main priorities: 1) Sustainable Raw Material Procurement, 2) Carbon Neutrality, 3) Plastic Reduction, and 4) Food Waste Reduction. Additionally, we will explore the feasibility of using new technologies to further drive sustainability in the future.”

The Sustainable Food System comprises four main dimensions:
1. Sustainable Raw Material Procurement: To establish a circular and sustainable raw material procurement system, the company aims to achieve 75% traceability and sustainability in sourcing by 2025, ensuring that procurement does not encroach on ecosystems or harm the environment. For coffee beans, the company sources from high-quality farms that adhere to “Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)” certified by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE).

2. Carbon Neutrality: Ajinomoto follows the Ajinomoto Bio-cycle concept, collaborating with local regions to develop sustainable production and agricultural management processes from upstream to downstream. All seven production plants are green and environmentally friendly, employing the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in factory management. This year, Ajinomoto aims to assess its total carbon footprint and partner with others to implement ongoing carbon reduction initiatives.

3. Plastic Reduction: The company focuses on minimizing plastic use in packaging by reducing new plastic applications and selecting recyclable materials. Additionally, Ajinomoto actively promotes tangible recycling efforts. 

4. Food Waste Reduction: Currently, six of Ajinomoto’s factories have achieved 100% food waste reduction, while the Birdy factory has reduced food waste by 82%, marking a significant improvement compared to the previous year. In addition, the company collaborates with communities near its factories to reduce food waste by repurposing leftover raw materials from the production of “Ros Dee” and “Birdy” as animal feed or fertilizer, distributing them to nearby communities. To help reduce household food waste, the company has been promoting this initiative through the “Too Good To Waste” project, which encourages consumers to minimize food waste using “eco-friendly recipes” that are both delicious and sustainable. Last year, Ajinomoto launched a campaign to create “Too Good To Waste” menus in collaboration with renowned restaurants, including Penlaos and Jirakaan Restaurant, inspiring both entrepreneurs and consumers.“The company is planning to explore the feasibility of using new technologies to further enhance sustainability and create a sustainable food cycle for the future,” added Mr. Smith.

     Mr. Noppadol  Jitman, Production & Development Division Manager, Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “We are a model business for environmental sustainability, focusing on two main operations: 1) As an agricultural products manufacturer, we convert by-products from the production process into organic fertilizers, plant products, and animal feed, having achieved 30% sales growth over the past year; and 2) the ‘Thai Farmer Better Life Partner’ project, now in its fifth year, aims to enhance the productivity and knowledge of Thai farmers. Currently, 1,300 farmer households are participating in this project, leading to a 30% increase in cassava production. The company is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030 and plans to expand its use of agricultural raw materials that are traceable from cultivation through to production to effectively reduce Scope 3 emissions.”

Cassava Sustainability Project



  The project outlines five main activity plans:

1) AFDG One-Stop Service: Providing both onsite and online support by creating an agricultural network with partners, including Kubota, for soil preparation and harvesting, and the agricultural startup ListenField to develop an application featuring weather forecasting, growth tracking, harvesting, and traceability; 
2) AI Supply Chain: Utilizing AI to create a supply chain that helps match flour factories with farmers; 
3) Collaboration with Flour Factories: Partnering with flour factories to source cassava from the “Thai Farmer Better Life Partner” project; 
4) Product Development: Innovating new products, such as organic fertilizers and bio-stimulants to support plant growth and water management solutions;
5) Farm School: Continuing the project in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension, focusing on providing advanced cultivation knowledge and techniques to cassava and coffee farmers to enhance their potential.
 

Green Coffee Bean (GCB) Farmer Sustainability Project


     
          As the producer of “Birdy” coffee, Thailand’s leading RTD canned coffee, Ajinomoto is comprehensively supporting Thai farmers. The company aims to produce quality products in accordance with “Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),” certified by the Department of Agricultural Extension, ensuring that products meet specified standards without causing pollution, thereby promoting long-term agricultural sustainability. 

     “Ajinomoto FD Green (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is fully committed to ensuring that this sustainability roadmap supports growth in Thailand’s agricultural sector and enhances the quality of life and well-being of Thai farmers, allowing them to thrive sustainably and move toward a brighter future together,” concluded Mr. Noppadol.