Ajinomoto launches the second annual 'Young Chef 2026' competition, inviting young people to showcase their ideas and transform healthy Thai cuisine, fostering sustainable nutrition.

Ajinomoto (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Moving forward to improve the quality of life for consumers, launching the project. “Ajinomoto Young Chef Thailand 2026” University students nationwide are invited to showcase their skills in preparing delicious and healthy food, competing for prizes totaling over 300,000 baht. This competition integrates skills in cooking, food science, and nutrition, aiming to cultivate young leaders in the healthy food sector to create a better society. "Eat well, be happy." Sustainable

Mr. Roan Ko Director, Ajinomoto (Thailand) Co., Ltd. It was stated that consumers today place greater importance on food that meets their needs in terms of health, taste, and quality of life. Therefore, Ajinomoto is leveraging its knowledge and expertise in this area. “AminoScience” Let's build upon this platform. Ajinomoto Young Chef Thailand 2026 Therefore, it's not just a cooking competition, but a space for the younger generation to develop their skills and create healthy meals that are both delicious and enjoyable to eat every day. "This year, we are introducing the concept..." 'Nutrition without Compromise' This has become a core principle of the project, based on the belief that healthy food must not neglect three important components:

1. Taste (รสชาติ): The food must be delicious and appetizing.
2. Access: It is easily accessible to consumers in their daily lives.
3. Local Way of Life: "It retains the charm and local food culture."

Another key highlight of the competition is the introduction of the system. NPS-M (Nutrient Profiling System for Meals) This is a guideline for evaluating the nutritional content of meals, developed in collaboration between the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, the Thai Dietitians Association, and Ajinomoto. It serves as a standard for judging healthy meals by achieving nutritional balance in six areas:

• Energy: Provides the appropriate amount of energy per meal.
• Protein: Contains a sufficient proportion of high-quality protein.
• Fat: Control your fat intake appropriately.
• Vegetables: Increase your fiber and vitamin intake from vegetables.
• Sugar: Control your sugar intake to stay within healthy limits.
• Sodium: Reduce sodium content using umami flavor and food science techniques without compromising the authentic Thai taste.

The project also promotes integrated collaboration between disciplines (cross-functional team) with Dusit Thani College on the task of "re-designing" Thai cuisine to meet the needs of the younger generation, and partners with the Faculty of Communication Arts, Bangkok University, through a related project. "Ajinomoto Young Creator" Nurturing a new generation of content creators, enabling finalists to create content using TikTok.

Competition Roadmap

• round 1: Individual Challenge (August 1 – September 15, 2569) – Accepting applications for healthy menu ideas via TikTok; 60 finalists will be selected.
• round 2: Intensive Camp (October 17-18, 2569) – A 2-day intensive camp delving into the science of amino acids. “AminoScience” With expert chefs, food scientists, and nutritionists, 10 teams will be selected to advance to the final round.
• round 3: Final Competition (December 12, 2569) – The final round of the healthy Thai cuisine competition was held at Dusit Thani College, Bangkok.

Applicant requirements and application methods.

Aged 17-25, currently studying in Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Science and Technology, Culinary Arts, or related fields. Apply online from August 1st to September 15th, 2569. Follow our Facebook Fan Page for more details. Ajinomoto Young Chef Thailand and website www.ajinomoto.co.th