A conversation with the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate

About this episode

Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria discusses her groundbreaking research and its impact on global agriculture as the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate.

Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria was told she could never make a career researching environmental agriculture practices. Today, she is the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate. She joins the show to discuss how her groundbreaking research in soil microbiology and biological nitrogen fixation has transformed global agriculture. Hungria shares the impact her science-loving grandmother had on her life and explains how science and sustainability can coexist to feed the planet’s growing population. (This episode was originally produced on Oct. 20, 2025)

People in this episode

Guest: Mariangela Hungria

Topics covered

• environmental agriculture
• soil microbiology
• biological nitrogen fixation
• global agriculture
• sustainability
• food security

Keywords

• Mariangela Hungria
• World Food Prize
• soil microbiology
• biological nitrogen fixation
• sustainability
• environmental agriculture
• food security

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Food Prize, Iowa Public Radio

Places: Brazil

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