A pioneering Brazilian microbiologist whose work helps farmers replace chemicals with less expensive, more environmentally friendly alternatives says she bucked intense societal and academic pressure to become a soil scientist.

“I followed my heart and my belief in productive, yet sustainable agriculture,” said Mariangela Hungria, who received the $500,000 World Food Prize on Thursday, Oct. 23, at a Community Choice Event Center ceremony in Des Moines. Gov. Kim Reynolds, World Food Prize Foundation CEO Tom Vilsack and Vice President of Ghana Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang were among those attending the ceremony.

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