Japan-based Ajinomoto Company Inc. has entered a global R&D alliance agreement with Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, MI, to develop products aimed at meeting consumers’ health and nutrition needs, consistent with both companies’ commitments to open innovation. Under the agreement, the two companies initially plan to focus on developing products that deliver benefits in the areas of weight management, sugar reduction and sodium reduction. Ajinomoto’s portfolio of ingredients that meet these opportunities includes capsiate and monatin.