Nature Outlook 

Sustainable nutrition

Large numbers of people are going hungry around the world and nutritional imbalances persist between low- and high-income nations. Not only are our food systems failing society but they are damaging the planet.

This Nature Outlook is editorially independent, produced with financial support from a third party. About this content.

Nature is pleased to acknowledge financial support from Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Yakult Honsha Co.,Ltd., NTT Corporation and support from RESULTS Japan in producing this Outlook. The sponsors retain sole responsibility for the following messages:

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The Ajinomoto Group was founded on the basis of umami seasoning, whose basic component is the amino acid glutamate, with the aspiration to help people “Eat Well, Live Well”. Aware of the countless possibilities, the Ajinomoto Group has pursued amino acid research across a wide range of areas for the past 110 years. We are helping people worldwide to achieve a healthier lifestyle by unlocking the power of amino acids. In 2020, we released a business strategy to grow and evolve by 2030 to resolve food and health issues based on our unique specialties associated with dietary habits and ageing, such as excess salt or insufficient protein. With our world-leading technologies, enhancing the flavour of low-salt foods, vegetables, grains, and other nutritious foods and optimizing protein intake to create well-balanced meals, we will contribute to greater wellness for people worldwide. We believe when nutritious foods taste good, are easily accessible, and respect local customs and flavours, global health can be optimized, and we aim develop and reformulate our products with our approach to nutrition – Nutrition Without Compromise. Our vision is to help extend the healthy life expectancy of 1 billion people and reduce our environmental impact by 50% while improving business performance.

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For several decades, Yakult has maintained its commitment to improving human health by researching Lactobacilli and through the development of its food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical businesses. Today, the company’s responsibilities extend beyond basic health to embrace global social and environmental challenges.

Yakult Central Institute has been conducting a wide range of studies in gut microbiota, probiotics, intestinal immunity and other areas of basic research, as well as in the development of food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, in order to accelerate research and development with unified structure from basic research to product feasibility assessment. Above all, the Institute works to understand the relationship between human health and gut microbiota, focusing on basic research into the structures and functions of microbiota. ‘YIF-SCAN®’ (Yakult Intestinal Flora Scan) is Yakult’s state-of-the-art system that analyses gut microbiota by selectively quantifying bacteria based on unique individual gene sequences.

Yakult’s network extends through Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe and its products of probiotics are consumed in 40 countries and regions. Daily global consumption of Yakult dairy products numbers more than 40 million. Yakult continues to strive to deepen its understanding of Lactobacilli and support good health for all.

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NTT believes in resolving social issues through our business operations by applying technology for good. We help clients accelerate growth and innovate for current and new business models. Our services include digital business consulting, technology and managed services for cybersecurity, applications, workplace, cloud, data centre and networks – all supported by our deep industry expertise and innovation. As a top five global technology and business solutions provider, our diverse teams operate in 80+ countries and regions and deliver services to over 190 of them. We serve over 80% of Fortune Global 100 companies and thousands of other clients and communities around the world.

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“We can change the world”: RESULTS Japan, a non-governmental organization, committed to creating the political will to achieve Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals through advocacy activities from the bottom to the top. We reflect voices in need to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty.

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