Insight Focus
Brazil is emerging as a global leader in biofertilizers. Mariangela Hungria’s research has helped drive this shift by using microorganisms to boost yields and reduce chemical use. In recognition of her work, she recently received the World Food Prize.
Brazilian Researcher Wins Prize for Biofertilizer Work
Considered one of the world’s pioneers in studying the role of microorganisms in plant development, researcher Mariangela Hungria received the World Food Prize in May, known as the Nobel Prize of agriculture.
Created in 1986 by agricultural engineer Norman Borlaug, renowned for his work in combatting hunger, the award annually recognises scientists who contribute to advancing agriculture.
Hungria’s work, as a researcher at Embrapa, led to the development of a series of biofertilizers based on microorganisms. In addition to replacing similar chemical products, these biofertilizers help plants absorb nutrients. This increases crop yield, helping to explain the growing appeal of such products.
Today, Brazilian farmers use more than 200 million doses of microorganism-based biofertilizers per year—an increase of 456% compared to 10 years ago, according to the National Association for the Promotion and Innovation of the Biological Industry (AnpiiBio).
Source: Anpiibio
“These are products that contribute to sustainability by improving soil health and food quality,” said Mariangela. “This award will play a very positive role in promoting the image of Brazil abroad as a country with sustainable agriculture.”
So, what are biofertilizers? And why could they be a game-changer for global food supply? Hungria explained in an interview with CZ App.
Mariangela Hungria, publicity photo, Embrapa
How can bio inputs increase crop yield in a sustainable way?
When I began studying agronomy, in the 1970s, the prevailing belief was that large-scale agriculture wouldn’t be possible using biological inputs. But I was always convinced that large-scale food production with bio inputs was a possible path.
This means our goal was for the productivity achieved with biological fertilizers to be equal to or greater than that of chemical products. We did this to encourage farmers to use biofertilizers.
I started working at Embrapa in 1982, first with beans and later with soybeans, corn, and wheat. More recently, we began researching bio inputs for Brachiaria, a grass commonly found in pastures. Today, biological fertilizers are used across a large portion of the area planted with soybeans, for example—with very good results.
Source: Conab
It is also important to remember that biological inputs represent millions of years of evolution between plants and microorganisms. This marriage between plants and microorganisms results in the production of high-quality seeds.
The emphasis of the research has always been on microorganisms with properties such as biological nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization. These microorganisms are essential for plant development and help to increase crop yield.
We select the most effective microorganisms. In plants, this translates into a higher protein content, for example. In wheat, we observe the best breadmaking rates, obtained from higher-quality flour.
How could this help Brazilian food production to become more sustainable and self-sustaining?
In Brazil, we import about 85% of the fertilizers and pesticides we use. One of our goals is to eventually replace chemical products with biological ones produced here in Brazil. At the start of the war in Ukraine, we faced challenges because prices rose significantly in 2022, and there were concerns about supply—since Ukraine and Russia are major global producers.
Source: Comex
It’s also worth remembering that the use of biological products leads to healthier soil, lower greenhouse gas emissions and better-quality food. This is because plants evolve to preserve their species — and microorganisms play a role in this. They help produce better adapted plants with more resilient seeds.
How did research into biological fertilizers for soybeans begin?
We were fortunate to have skilled microbiologists in Brazil when soybean production began to grow. We invested in biological nitrogen fixation, so Brazilian soybeans today fix a significant amount of nitrogen.
In the US, where farmers relied on fertilizers at subsidised prices, crop improvement was achieved mainly through chemical fertilizers. As a result, US soybeans don’t fix nitrogen like Brazilian soybeans.
However, it’s important to note that current soybean productivity challenges are largely related to technology adoption. We have reached a productivity plateau in Brazil, so further investment in technology is necessary to increase productivity. We will get there, especially because in the coming years, many tools—such as artificial intelligence and other technologies—will become much more accessible.
Source: Comex
It’s also worth remembering that the use of biological products leads to healthier soil, lower greenhouse gas emissions and better-quality food. This is because plants evolve to preserve their species — and microorganisms play a role in this. They help produce better adapted plants with more resilient seeds.
How did research into biological fertilizers for soybeans begin?
We were fortunate to have skilled microbiologists in Brazil when soybean production began to grow. We invested in biological nitrogen fixation, so Brazilian soybeans today fix a significant amount of nitrogen.
In the US, where farmers relied on fertilizers at subsidised prices, crop improvement was achieved mainly through chemical fertilizers. As a result, US soybeans don’t fix nitrogen like Brazilian soybeans.
However, it’s important to note that current soybean productivity challenges are largely related to technology adoption. We have reached a productivity plateau in Brazil, so further investment in technology is necessary to increase productivity. We will get there, especially because in the coming years, many tools—such as artificial intelligence and other technologies—will become much more accessible.
Yes. Our colleagues studied mandacaru, a cactus from the Caatinga region that can survive up to two years without water. They discovered that the bacterium Bacillus aryabhattai, found in mandacaru, can help create protective barriers in the roots. A bioinput made from this bacterium has even been launched.
There are several research fronts in this area, especially since climate change poses a significant challenge for agriculture.
Mandacaru, Northeast
There are already records of these same microorganisms being used outside of the Caatinga region for crops like corn. It’s important to remember that Brazil has fantastic biodiversity, but we have only explored a small part of it.
To what extent is there room for research on biological inputs?
There’s a huge market. Today, Brazil leads in the use of bio-inputs in agriculture, but farmers still rely heavily on chemicals. We have a lot of room to grow in terms of biological products.
Source: McKinsey
With the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine, this started to change. During the pandemic, imports became more complicated, and the war caused concern among farmers.
Brazil imports a large portion of its fertilizers from Russia, and the war made it difficult for these products to arrive here. Since then, farmers have increasingly begun to test biological products.
Source: Comex
What are some new lines of research on biological inputs?
We are investing heavily in grass used in pastures. I would like to end my career with studies on pastures, which are one of Brazil’s greatest environmental liabilities. Around 60% of pastures are in some stage of degradation and can be used for agriculture.
Some of our results that show that biological products are very useful in pastures. Microorganisms help to recover the soil more efficiently, including recycling nutrients and building organic matter. I want to leave this legacy.
