Start month

August, 2016

Participant

Ajinomoto Co., Inc.,  FUJI OIL HOLDINGS INC.

Partner

Institute Pertanian Bogor University, University of Indonesia

Overview

This project intends to introduce nutritionally balanced workplace meals for factory workers in Karawang Industrial Park.
In Indonesia, there is still a undernutrition, and at the same time, there is a problem of “double load of malnutrition” in which lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity increase rapidly due to excessive intake of an unbalanced diet. We focused on approaches in the workplace such as factories as a place to realize “behavior change” that has correct knowledge about meals and changes eating habits.

Please refer the site of “Activity report: We visited Indonesia for the “Workplace nutrition” Project“.

Start month

November, 2018

Participant

MIYAKOKYUSHOKU Co., Ltd.
International Life Sciences Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)

Partner

Institute Pertanian Bogor University

Overview

This project aims for improving nutritious status of employees through providing well-balanced meal, nutrition education with Whats APP based on academic research and hygiene education in Deltamas Industrial Park. In November, 2018, the project team members visited the factories which were introduced this project and discussed and analysed challenges of the meal with our counterpart, Institute Pertanian Bogor University. As a result, the project cralified many employees were overweight and high blood pressure because of unbalanced diet. The pilot study conducted from February to May 2019 suggested a combination of well-balanced meal and nutrition education may have promoted behavior change such as increasing variety of food.
In August 2019, we held workshops for Japanese factory workers at two industrial parks in the suburbs of Jakarta regarding the results, and exchanged information and opinions with local food service providers. Currently, we are continuing activities as Phase 2 (impact evaluation using a new health index focusing on vegetable intake) and promoting horizontal expansion to other factories.

Start month

February, 2022

Participant

OBAYASHI CORPORATION
International Life Sciences Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)

Partner

Meros Consulting, IPB University(FY2021)
PT. Equator Bumi Energi（FY2022）

Overview

 Obayashi Corporation is promoting new business development in the area of food supply, including agriculture and fisheries, as part of its initiatives to realize a recycling-oriented society. The company is exploring business entry opportunities in Japan and overseas, aiming for a “local production for local consumption model of food ” that can provide safe and delicious food in the right amount at the right time, suited to the region. In Indonesia, we are focusing on food raw material production and meal provision services. On the production side, the company has developed its own highly efficient production system and is working to achieve low prices, stable supply, and stable quality, while on the consumption side, it is expanding its perspective to include not only BtoB, but also BtoC and the way people eat, and hopes to expand vegetable consumption and improve nutrition through new supply services.  

FY2021 project
 Two main factors hindering the promotion of vegetable intake are considered to be 1) the supply chain of vegetables is not established and it is difficult for consumers to obtain good quality vegetables at low prices, and 2) the demand for vegetables does not increase due to people’s low awareness of the importance of vegetable intake. This time, we will focus on the second point and identify the factors that hinder the improvement of vegetable consumption by conducting a survey that clarifies the situation related to people’s vegetable intake and their perception of nutrition intake and vegetables. Based on this survey, strategies to promote people’s vegetable intake will be clarified, and a business model from production to distribution of quality vegetables will be studied, aiming to contribute to the promotion of vegetable intake and the nutrition improvement of the people.

FY2022 project
 The results of the 2021 survey suggested that the Indonesian people have a low level of interest in vegetables. Therefore, the project aims to expand the vegetable market by better understanding of diet and health and finding ways to promote the consumption of a variety of foodstuffs. In the 2021 survey, solutions such as nutrition education for mothers, new menu suggestions, and suggestions on how to prepare a variety of ingredients are expected to improve the nutrition of Indonesians. The population that already habitually consumes vegetables did not manifest any psychological barriers to vegetable intake, but it has become apparent that they want to reduce their cooking time and learn new recipes. Based on these results, in FY2022, we created a nutritionally balanced meal kit and offered it with nutrition education services to see if it could improve household vegetable intake, diet quality, and nutritional balance. The results showed an improvement trend in the frequency of vegetable intake and the number of foods consumed after the intervention, and an increase in the number of people willing to start a healthier diet.Preference for meal kit was highly evaluated, but issues such as pricing of meal kits, food loss, and best-before date of meal kits could be found.

Start month

August, 2017

Participant

International Life Science Institute Japan (ILSI Japan),
DSM Japan K.K.

Partner

University of Human Arts and Science,
RACHA(Cambodia)

Overview

This project refers to introduce micro-nutrient fortified rice for workers in developing countries. The micro-nutrient deficiency among pregnant-beaing aged women may cause serious health problems of mothers and children, and it may lead to increase absenteeism of workers and reduce productivity.
For tackle this problem, we promote nutrition improvements through the introduction of micro-nutrient fortified rice and nutritional education in Cambodian wokplaces. We expect to improve the knowledge of nutrition and increase nutritional status among Cambodian women’s workers. Besides, we also expect a reduction of absenteeism and an improvement of productivity.
This project will be implemented with RACHA（Reproductive and Child Health Alliance）which is a NGO working for maternal and child health in Cambodia.
With the approval of the Ethics Committee, a 12-week pilot test was conducted by 180 people from November 2018. As a result, the serum folic acid concentration increased in proportion to the intake frequency of fortified cooked rice, which was significantly improved. In July 2019, a workshop was held in Phnom Penh to provide information on the results of the pilot study to Cambodian government agencies, the United Nations WFP (World Food Program) and local companies. Currently, we are preparing to expand the scale of introducing fortified rice.

Start month

September, 2019

Participant

Fujitsu Research Institute(Ridgelinez Limited. from FY2020), International Life Science Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)

Overview

Improving nutritional literacy and realizing behavioral changes in eating habits are major issues in achieving nutrition improvement, and effective methods have not yet been established. Demonstrate that a token system that applies blockchain technology can be an effective way for that, using “workplace nutrition improvement” as an example and establish a new business model for nutrition awareness activities. In addition, the government of Cambodia should be actively involved and positioned as one of the national strategies for improving nutrition in Cambodia. In December 2019, a pilot test has been conducted for two months at a Japanese plant in Cambodia by 100 people. In FY2020, an additional test will be conducted to correct the issues that obtained past test.

Start month

September, 2021

Participant

International FURIKAKE Association

Partner

Cambodia Fish Farm

Overview

In Cambodia, which is traditionally a rice-eating culture, many children in recent years have been substituting inexpensive and easily available snacks and soft drinks for meals, raising concerns about undernutrition and future lifestyle-related diseases. In order to address this issue, we have started a project to develop nutritious Furikake, which is Japanese Rice Seasoning, using discarded fish bones and distribute it along with nutrition education to increase people’s knowledge of nutrition and to improve their nutrition and eating habits through the spread and establishment of Furikake. In FY2021, the first year of the project, we are making a prototype of Furikake for distribution and conducting intervention tests at elementary schools to measure changes in eating habits.

Start month

November, 2018

Participant

Kao Corporation

Partner

Hirosaki University COI (Center of Healthy Aging Innovation) vridge Co.,Ltd.

Overview

This project introduces enlightening health checkup and nutrition improvement program led by Hirosaki COI to Hai Phong City, Vietnam and verifies the efectiveness and fixability. The target areas of this project are workplace, community and school. The project started the basic survey to confirm the possibility of business development of enlightening health checkup in January and February, 2019. At the same time, the project members visited some factories and explained the purpose, contents and how to proceed for a trial.
Based on the results of this basic survey,  we plan to develop the project with the support of JICA in the future. From July 2020, we will start full-scale activities such as inviting Vietnamese people to Japan to train human resources to conduct “enlightening QoL health checkups,” follow-up education, and guidance.

Start month

February, 2022

Participant

KAGOME CO., LTD.
International Life Science Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)

Partner

vridge Co.,Ltd.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) 

Overview

Vietnam has an increasing proportion of non-communicable diseases as a cause of death, and measures against lifestyle-related diseases have become an important issue. One way to prevent lifestyle-related diseases is to intake nutrients such as vitamins and minerals from vegetables and fruits, but at present, more than half of the population are insufficient for the daily intake of vegetables and fruits recommended by WHO (400 g). Therefore, by popularizing health foods using vegetables and fruits, we aim to improve the intake of vegetables and fruits in Vietnam and contribute to improving people’s nutrition and preventing lifestyle-related diseases.  

In FY2021, a basic survey will be conducted in Ho Chi Minh City in order to understand how to effectively popularize health foods using vegetables and fruits.  

The results of the FY2021 survey showed that knowledge about the functionality of vegetables, such as their importance in preventing lifestyle-related diseases, is not well known in Vietnam. This suggests that it is important to disseminate information on the functionality and nutritional functions of vegetables and to make consumers aware of the importance of vegetable intake. However, since it has not been clarified whether information dissemination has a positive impact on vegetable intake behavior in Vietnam, we conducted in FY2022 a basic survey to clarify the following two points. ①Investigation of the relationship between awareness of the functionality and nutritional functions of vegetables and vegetable intake and behavior in Vietnaum, and ②Investigation of the relationship between personality and vegetable intake and eating behavior in Vietnam. (recent studies have reported that personality, such as temperament and character, is linked to dietary choices.) The survey results have suggested that many Vietnamese may underestimate the vegetable intake necessary for good health, and that there is a relationship between awareness and knowledge of the functionality and nutritional components of vegetables and the frequency of intake of green and yellow vegetables. It was found that there is a possibility to promote vegetable intake by “dissemination of information on the recommended daily intake of vegetables” and “enlightening knowledge about the functionality and nutritional components of vegetables. In addition, since personality traits such as cooperativeness, diligence and openness were higher in those who consumed green and yellow vegetables more frequently, it was considered that dissemination of information based on personality traits may lead to promoting vegetable intake.

Start month

December, 2019

Participant

World Industry Co., Ltd., International Life Science Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)

Partner

Nakamura Gakuen University

Overview

World Industry Co., Ltd. has a central kitchen at a location adjacent to the Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Yangon, providing more than 1,000 meals a day, mainly to Japanese companies in the special zone. Although the company aims to improve the dietary habits of local employees through the school lunch business, it is assumed that the health status of local employees seems generally poor because they eat food without considering the nutritional balance. Therefore, it is expected that providing nutritionally balanced meals and nutrition education at the workplace will not only lead to improved nutrition and health of employees, but also to the profits of advanced companies through improved productivity. It is also hoped that this initiative will lead to a national effort to improve the nutrition of the people, such as nutrition education in Myanmar and the establishment of a dietician qualification system. As a first step, an on-site survey was conducted in January 2020 to select a factory for installation and to explore the possibility of cooperation with Myanmar government officials. Based on this survey, we plan to conduct an intervention test for improving workplace nutrition using a Japanese factory in an industrial park in the suburbs of Yangon as a model in 2021. To launch this test, we continue to develop menus and investigate.

Start month

December, 2022

Participant

Ridgelinez Limited. International Life Science Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)., World Industry Co., Ltd.

Overview

In Myanmar, there is no system for dietetics professional and there are almost no opportunities to receive nutrition education. A survey of workplace meals in Myanmar in 2020 suggested excessive intake of rice and oil, salt, and insufficient intake of micronutrients. To promote nutrition improvement in Myanmar, this project focused on improving food variety and contributing to nutrition improvement and health status through nutrition education, and demonstrated that a nutrition education application using gamification can be an effective tool of learning through workplace nutrition improvement.
In addition, it was confirmed that the development of nutrition awareness activities can be completed fully online, even in areas where it is difficult to travel due to political instability and other reasons. The following three steps were taken to the participants: 1) Questionnaire to assess knowledge and current status of nutrition and health (pre- and post- intervention), 2) dietary records and nutrition quiz challenge using a nutrition education app (conducted for 4 weeks), and 3) a health and nutrition seminar.
Analysis of the pre- and post-intervention questionnaires showed improvements in food intake, stage of eating behavior change, and subjective health.
The nutrition education application was designed to record the number of foods consumed (TAKE10! Myanmar version was developed), and the participants could earn the right to take the nutrition quiz by consuming at least 4 to 5 foods per day. Furthermore, if the user answers the nutrition quiz correctly, he or she earns coins, which can be exchanged for incentives.
The nutrition education app was used by 70% of all employees and showed an increase in the percentage of quizzes answered correctly and in the number of foods consumed.
Thus, participants’ nutrition literacy increased, suggesting that nutrition education apps can be an effective tool for nutrition improvement. We were also able to show that the program participants’ behavior change was observed even when the program was completely online.

Start month

December, 2021

Participant

DSM Japan K.K. , International Life Science Institute Japan (ILSI Japan)

Partner

UN WFP Philippines (2021)
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (2022)

Overview

Survey in FY2021
The Philippines is the first country in the world to enact a law on rice fortification, but there are only a few iron-fortified rice and fortified rice is not widespread. To explore the reasons for this, a survey will be conducted to map past efforts for dissemination and identify issues in the supply chain/advocacy/campaigns. Based on these findings, we will put together recommendations for developing stronger policies for the implementation of the Law on Rice Fortification, and realize the fortification of rice as a business, contributing to the improvement of anemia and malnutrition in the Philippines.
The study conducted in FY2021 found the following challenges: 1) imbalance between supply and demand; 2) vulnerabilities in the supply chain in terms of planning, logistics, and procurement; 3) imbalance between the cost of fortified rice and the value consumers are finding; 4) lack of awareness programs in the country . Overall, the recommendations include: (1) increase demand for fortified rice, (2) strengthen production in areas lacking production bases, (3) review production costs, (4) raise awareness of the value of fortified rice, (5) learn lessons from best practices and apply them to other regions, and (6) strengthen outreach to individual local governments.

Survey in FY2022
In the Philippines, much of the population is likely to be simultaneously deficient in many micronutrients, including iron. This may be improved by fortifying rice, a staple food, with multiple micronutrients. Based on the results of the FY2021 project on iron-fortified rice in the Philippines, the purpose of the FY2022 project was to clarify the necessity of introducing Multiple Micro-Nutrient (MMN) Fortified Rice, the legal and regulatory procedures necessary for its introduction, and the road map to expand the use of MMN Fortified Rice.
The result of survey revealed the role of various government agencies in the Philippines involved in rice nutritional fortification and what is required to obtain legal and regulatory approval for MMN-fortified rice. In addition, MMN fortified rice is a staple food that is fortified with nutrients, so it is expected to be effective for a wide range of age groups, and the cost increase is not significant, among other benefits. Based on our experience in promoting iron-fortified rice, it seemed like a good time to initiate activities to raise awareness about the need for MMN-fortified rice. From them, the introduction of MMN-fortified rice could be an effective means to solve the problem of micronutrient deficiency among the majority of the population in the Philippines.

Report

Inception Report (FY2021)
“Rice Nutrient Fortification Study in the Philippines” Project Final Report (June,2022)
“Final Report – Study on the Challenges of Commercializing Multinutrient Fortified Rice in the Philippines” (June, 2023)

Start month

Norbember, 2022

Participant

TOKYO8 GLOBAL INC., (Taiyo Yuka Co., Ltd. AssentiaHoldings, Inc.)

Partner

Green Growth Food Tech

Overview

Food shortages and resulting malnutrition are serious problems in African countries. Therefore, it is necessary to support small-scale farming and improve the self-sufficiency rate of agricultural products. Thus, we aimed to improve agricultural productivity and economic efficiency of small-scale farmers by using bio-agricultural material TOKYO8. We also aimed to make a sustainable contribution to improving children’s nutrition by providing free lunch (school lunch) from the harvested agricultural products at school gardens. In this project, we communicated and educated students how to farm with TOKYO8 in school vegetable gardens in Liberia with a local partner, Green Growth Food Tech. The project progress confirmed that an increase in the number of vegetables used in free lunches could be expected. We were able to confirm that this project has the potential to lead to sustainable improvement of children’s nutrition.
In addition, as for the commercialization of TOKYO8, the Japanese side plans to sell a small amount of TOKYO8 stock solution to Green Growth Food Tech, a local partner, and Green Growth Food Tech will reproduce and sell TOKYO8 in Liberia, thereby earning a profit. We plan to develop this business model in the form of a manufacturing franchise format.
The project to improve nutrition through school gardens using TOKYO8 can contribute to improving the problem of food shortages and malnutrition in Africa, while supporting small-scale agriculture. Through this improvement activity by business, we aim to sustainably develop agricultural productivity, nutrition improvement, and the economic efficiency of farmers and local communities.