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Agronomist Mariangela Hungria, a graduate of USP’s “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (Esalq), has been awarded the World Food Prize, widely regarded as the “Nobel Prize” of agriculture. The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 13, at the headquarters of the World Food Prize Foundation in the United States. Presented annually, the prize honors individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the quality and availability of food around the world.
Mariangela, who also has a master’s degree in soils and plant nutrition from Esalq, is a researcher at Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural and Livestock Production Research Corporation), a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and is recognized for developing innovative technologies in soil microbiology, with 40 years dedicated to research. In an announcement, the foundation pointed out that Mariângela’s discoveries have helped Brazil become a global agricultural power.
“Replacing chemicals with organic products in agriculture has been my life’s work. I’m very proud to contribute to food production while reducing our environmental impact. The goal was to increase productivity with the least possible use of chemicals, and we achieved this with more biological products,” Mariangela said in a statement about the prize.
She sees the prize as a recognition of Brazilian science and a motivation for fellow researchers. “I can’t believe I’m now receiving the World Food Prize. Many people questioned my ability throughout my career, but I believed in what I was doing and persevered. The role of women in agriculture, from agriculture to science, deserves more recognition. I hope my achievement will inspire other people to pursue their passions in science.”
Biological fertilizers
Inspired by Johanna Döbereiner, internationally recognized for her contributions to agriculture, Mariangela was one of the first advocates of biological nitrogen fixation, a process in which crops form a mutually beneficial association with soil bacteria that provide nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth.
Throughout her career, she has developed dozens of biological treatments that reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and boost productivity. These innovations are estimated to have been applied to over 40 million hectares in Brazil, saving farmers up to US$25 billion annually in input costs and preventing more than 230 million tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year.
According to Embrapa, where she has worked since 1982, Mariangela’s research has focused on increasing food production and quality by fully or partially replacing chemical fertilizers with microorganisms that have properties such as biological nitrogen fixation, phytohormone synthesis, and solubilization of phosphates and potassium rocks.
In addition to soybean research, Mariangela has also coordinated studies that have led to technologies for other crops, such as beans, corn, and wheat. Stanford University (USA) ranked her among the 100,000 most influential scientists in the world in 2020.
In addition to her master’s degree from Esalq, Mariangela has a doctorate in Soil Science from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) and post-doctoral studies at three universities: Cornell University, University of California-Davis, and University of Seville. She began her career in 1982 at Embrapa Agrobiologia, in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro. Since 1991, she has worked at Embrapa Soja in Londrina, Paraná. She is also a professor at the State University of Paraná and the Federal University of Technology of the State of Paraná.
First Brazilian woman to receive the prize
This is the third time the World Food Prize has been awarded to Brazilians, and the first time to a Brazilian woman. In 2006, agronomists Edson Lobato and Alysson Paulinelli shared the prize with A. Colin McClung, from the United States, for their contributions to the development of agriculture in Brazil’s Cerrado region. In 2011, two former presidents, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and John Kufuor of Ghana, were recognized for their efforts to combat hunger while serving as heads of government.
The prize was conceived by Norman E. Borlaug, who in 1970 won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in agriculture and is considered the “father” of the Green Revolution. The laurel was created in 1986, sponsored by the General Foods Corporation. With the recognition, Mariangela will receive US$500,000 and a sculpture designed by artist and designer Saul Bass. The prize ceremony will occur on October 23 in Des Moines (USA).
The governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, was present at the announcement and reinforced Mariangela’s example to other women. “As a pioneering scientist and mother, Dr. Hungria is also an inspiring example for female researchers who seek to embody both roles. Her discoveries have led Brazil to become a global granary,” she said.
“Dr. Hungria was selected for her extraordinary scientific achievements in biological nitrogen fixation, which have transformed the sustainability of agriculture in South America,” said Gebisa Ejeta, chair of the selection committee for the World Food Prize. “Her brilliant research and steadfast commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices have earned her international recognition, both in Brazil and around the world.”
More information about the World Food Prize is available here.
Text: Brazilian Academy of Sciences
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
