Microbes, Not Machines: How Microbial Fertilisers Are Transforming Global Agriculture and Fighting Food Insecurity
In a world grappling with rising hunger, soil degradation and the ever-growing threat of climate change, the most promising solution may not lie in high-tech innovation or industrial-scale reform. Instead, it may come from the ground beneath our feet: microbes in the soil.
Brazilian microbiologist Dr Mariangela Hungria has spent more than four decades studying the power of biological nitrogen fixation, and in 2025, her efforts were recognised globally when she was awarded the prestigious World Food Prize. Her work provides a vital pathway for sustainable agriculture and offers hope for eradicating food insecurity particularly in vulnerable regions around the world.
As a senior researcher at Brazil’s national agricultural research agency, Embrapa, Dr Hungria developed methods that enable crops e.g. soybeans in order to obtain nitrogen directly from the atmosphere through symbiosis with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. This process, known as biological nitrogen fixation, reduces or eliminates the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
In Brazil, over 80% of soybean crops now grow without chemical nitrogen inputs, a practice that has significantly reduced costs for farmers, minimised environmental damage and helped Brazil become the world’s top soybean producer. Production has surged from 15 million metric tonnes in the 1980s to over 170 million tonnes in 2024 (Reuters).
The global implications are profound. Nitrogen-based fertilisers are one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Reducing reliance on them not only protects the environment but also strengthens food security for future generations.
Dr Hungria’s achievement aligns with the broader vision set by the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 13 (Climate Action), stress the importance of building resilient and sustainable food systems.
WHO has long recognised that sustainable agriculture is foundational to improving nutrition and preventing disease. Health and agriculture are inextricably linked. Reducing chemical fertiliser use results in cleaner water sources, healthier soils and more nutritious crops: benefits that extend beyond farmers to entire communities.
By improving soil fertility and increasing yields through natural means, microbial fertilisers contribute directly to efforts to end hunger, reduce poverty and enhance the well-being of millions. This is particularly critical in regions where synthetic fertilisers are unaffordable or inaccessible.
As a former UN Medical Director who worked extensively on food insecurity and malnutrition, I have seen how degraded soils and declining yields drive communities into deeper cycles of hunger, poor health and dependence on humanitarian aid. The promise of microbial fertilisers lies in their ability to address the root causes of these crises: restoring soil health, increasing self-sufficiency and making farming both economically and ecologically sustainable.
In many parts of the world, most notibly sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, smallholder farmers are locked out of global supply chains due to poor soil conditions and high input costs. Biological nitrogen fixation provides a locally adaptable, low-cost alternative that can empower these farmers to feed their communities and improve livelihoods.
While Dr Hungria’s focus has been on nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soybean cultivation, the potential of microbial technologies in agriculture goes far beyond this application. Other benefits include:
1. Improved Soil Health and Biodiversity
Introducing beneficial microbes into the soil supports natural nutrient cycling, suppresses pathogens and enhances soil structure. This leads to long-term fertility and reduced dependency on external inputs (Microbes Publisher).
2. Carbon Sequestration
Some soil microbes assist in capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, helping agriculture become part of the solution to climate change (Revista Cultivar).
3. Increased Water Efficiency
Microbial activity improves soil porosity and water retention, reducing the need for irrigation and making farms more resilient during droughts.
4. Economic Sustainability for Farmers
With fertiliser prices rising globally, biological alternatives offer farmers a way to reduce input costs without sacrificing yield. This is particularly critical for small-scale producers in the Global South (PreScouter).
5. Resilience to Climate Stress
Microbial treatments can enhance crop resistance to pests, diseases and extreme weather, providing a buffer against the increasing unpredictability of farming in a changing climate.
For microbial fertilisers to reach their full potential, there must be stronger collaboration between scientists, governments, multilateral agencies and farming communities. Policies should support farmer education, fund research into locally relevant microbial strains and invest in smallholder-friendly delivery systems.
Organisations such as the FAO’s Global Soil Partnership and the UN Environment Programme’s work on regenerative agriculture are already laying important groundwork. What is needed now is broader adoption, greater funding and integration into national development plans.
Dr Hungria’s work serves as a reminder that the solutions to some of the world’s most urgent challenges may already exist in nature. By amplifying the role of microbes in agriculture, we can restore soil health, feed growing populations and protect the planet.
From my experience in the field, I know that sustainable agriculture is not only about boosting yields, it is about restoring dignity, promoting equity and securing the right to food for all.
As we look to a future of increasing uncertainty, the microbial revolution offers not just hope, but a viable path forward.
Further Reading and Resources:
• World Food Prize: Dr Mariangela Hungria’s Award Announcement
• UN Sustainable Development Goals – Zero Hunger