---
title: Biological Nitrogen Fixation (Inoculants)
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/spore/brazil__biological-nitrogen-fixation-inoculants"
hub: spore
summary: EMBRAPA-developed Bradyrhizobium inoculants replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer on 27.7 million hectares of soybean, saving Brazil $10.3 billion per year in fertilizer imports
---

# Biological Nitrogen Fixation (Inoculants)

EMBRAPA-developed Bradyrhizobium inoculants replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer on 27.7 million hectares of soybean, saving Brazil $10.3 billion per year in fertilizer imports
- Technology Readiness Level: 9/9
- Impact: 4/5
- Investment: 3/5
Instead of applying synthetic nitrogen fertilizer (made from natural gas via the Haber-Bosch process), Brazilian soybean farmers coat seeds with Bradyrhizobium bacteria that form root nodules and convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available form. The inoculation costs R$8/hectare versus R$906/hectare for equivalent synthetic fertilizer.

Across 27.7 million hectares, this saves Brazil approximately $10.3 billion annually in fertilizer imports and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from both fertilizer production and application. The technology was highlighted by Nature as a model for sustainable intensification.

The significance extends beyond cost savings. Brazil's soybean industry — the world's largest — operates with minimal dependence on synthetic nitrogen, a petrochemical product subject to price spikes and supply disruptions. During the 2022 fertilizer crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Brazilian soybean farmers were largely insulated.

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Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/spore/brazil__biological-nitrogen-fixation-inoculants)