Ajinomoto Thailand launches its second annual Young Chef 2026 competition, targeting students aged 17–25 to innovate healthy Thai cuisine using the AminoScience framework. The program uses NPS-M (Nutrient Profiling System for Meals)—developed with Mahidol Institute, Thai Dietetic Association, and Ajinomoto—to balance nutrition across six dimensions (energy, protein, fat, vegetables, sugar, sodium) while maintaining authentic Thai flavour. Three rounds run Aug–Dec 2026, with prize pool exceeding 300,000 baht. This signals growing consumer demand for health-conscious, accessible food and Ajinomoto's strategy to capture the next-gen wellness food market in Thailand through youth engagement and social media.