Group 1 - The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungaria has been awarded the 2025 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking contributions in agricultural biotechnology, along with a prize of $500,000 [1][3] - Hungaria has worked for over 40 years at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and is known for her innovative approach of using bacteria as a substitute for chemical fertilizers, which was initially met with skepticism [3] - Her research led to the isolation of highly efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobium strains that can symbiotically interact with soybean roots, significantly increasing Brazil's soybean production from 15 million tons in the 1980s to 170 million tons today, making Brazil the largest soybean producer and exporter globally [3] Group 2 - The application of Hungaria's microbial treatment technology has been adopted on over 40 million hectares of farmland in Brazil, resulting in annual savings of over $10 billion in fertilizer costs and a 30% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer usage [3] - As the second scientist from EMBRAPA to receive this honor, Hungaria aims to drive institutional transformation and plans to use her prize money to establish awards for women in research, supporting innovation in agriculture, microbiology, and care for special groups [4]