Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria has been awarded the 2025 World Food Prize, along with a $500,000 cash award, for her decades-long work in advancing sustainable farming practices by reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers. The announcement was made by the World Food Prize Foundation on May 13 at the Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates in Iowa, United States.
Dr. Hungria, a senior researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), has spent over 40 years studying soil microbiology and developing biological treatments for seeds and soil. Her research has enabled farmers to increase crop productivity using naturally occurring soil bacteria that help plants absorb essential nutrients like nitrogen.
Her methods are credited with boosting yields of crops such as soybean, maize, rice, wheat and beans, while simultaneously lowering greenhouse gas emissions and farming costs.
According to the Foundation, Dr. Hungria’s innovations are now applied on over 40 million hectares across Brazil. By replacing synthetic fertilisers with microbial inoculants, farmers have reportedly saved up to $40 billion in input costs annually, while also preventing more than 180 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
“Replacing the use of chemicals with biologicals in agriculture has been the fight of my life,” said Dr. Hungria in a statement. “I'm proud to have contributed to producing food with reduced environmental impact.”
One of her major contributions has been the development and promotion of inoculants containing rhizobia and Azospirillum brasilense—bacteria that naturally supply nitrogen to crops. These treatments have shown significant results, particularly for soybean and common beans, and are now used widely across Brazilian farmlands. More than 70 million doses of these inoculants are applied annually, covering nearly 15 million hectares.
At the beginning of her career, Dr. Hungria was mentored by Dr. Johanna Döbereiner, a pioneering figure in the field of biological nitrogen fixation. At the time, microbiology was not widely recognised as a viable alternative to chemical fertilisers. Over the years, she helped popularise the practice by combining scientific research with practical field implementation.
She also led efforts to rehabilitate degraded pasturelands through microbiological methods, developing the first-ever inoculant for grass pastures. This innovation led to a 22% increase in biomass, providing more feed for cattle and helping restore soil health.
Born in São Paulo, Dr. Hungria is also a professor at the State University of Paraná and the Federal University of Technology of Paraná. She has authored more than 500 scientific publications and developed Brazil’s first Portuguese-language manual on tropical soil microbiology techniques. Since 2020, she has been ranked among the top one per cent of agricultural scientists globally by Stanford University.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who presided over the award announcement, praised Dr. Hungria as “a scientist of great perseverance and vision” and noted that she shares many qualities with Norman Borlaug, the founder of the World Food Prize and a key figure in the Green Revolution.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hungria has also spoken out about the challenges faced by women and mothers in scientific research. Named one of the 100 most powerful women in Brazilian agriculture by Forbes in 2021, she has often highlighted the need for greater representation of women in the field.
“I can’t quite believe I am now receiving the World Food Prize,” she said. “Many people questioned me and my abilities throughout my career, but I believed in what I was doing and persevered.”
The World Food Prize carries a cash award of $500,000 and is regarded as the most prestigious international honour recognising individuals who have advanced human development through food and agriculture. Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, Chair of the Prize’s Selection Committee, described Dr. Hungria’s contributions as transformative for sustainable agriculture, particularly in South America.
