14/02/2026
Amazing women doing amazing work !
Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria dedicated decades to researching nitrogen-fixing bacteria that allow crops to absorb nitrogen directly from the air. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but synthetic fertilizers are expensive and energy-intensive to produce.
Her work focused on developing microbial inoculants that can be applied to seeds at low cost — approximately $2 per treatment — compared to significantly higher costs for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. These bacteria form symbiotic relationships with crops such as soybeans, reducing dependence on chemical inputs.
Brazil’s large-scale adoption of biological nitrogen fixation has saved farmers billions of dollars annually. It has also significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertilizer production and application. Nitrogen fertilizers are a major source of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.
For her groundbreaking contributions to sustainable agriculture, Hungria was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize. Her work demonstrates how microbiology can transform global farming systems while improving both economic and environmental outcomes.
This achievement highlights the power of long-term scientific research in addressing food security and climate change simultaneously.
