Cristina Comas receives the Food Tech Award at the 8th MujerAGRO Awards

Cristina Comas Micolau (Teruel, 1995), PhD in Biotechnology and Head of Microbiology at Afepasa, has been awarded the Food Tech Award at the 8th MujerAGRO Awards, recognising female leadership and innovation in the agri-food sector.

The award recognises the project “Isolation and Characterisation of Soil Bacteria as Biostimulants to Improve Nutritional Efficiency in Horticultural Crops”, a research initiative aimed at addressing some of the major challenges facing modern agriculture: reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers, improving soil health, and increasing crop resilience to climate change.

Soil Bacteria as Agricultural Biostimulants

The research focuses on the isolation and study of indigenous soil bacteria capable of improving the availability of essential nutrients for plants, such as phosphorus and sulphur. This approach is part of new agricultural biostimulantstrategies aimed at optimising nutrient use and improving productivity in a more sustainable way.

One of the project's most significant results has been the identification of a new bacterial species: Variovorax palleresanus. Trials have shown that this bacterium can increase the yield of horticultural crops by up to 30%, including tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower.

Its action is based on several complementary mechanisms:

• Production of phytohormones that stimulate plant growth.
• Improved uptake of essential nutrients from the soil.
• Reduction of compounds that can limit plant development.
• Increased crop tolerance to environmental stresses, such as drought.

Thanks to these mechanisms, the use of beneficial bacteria can improve the nutritional efficiency of crops and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers, contributing to more efficient agriculture that is more respectful of soil health.

Biological Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture

The biostimulant developed from this research contributes to the transition towards a more sustainable agricultural model, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The application of agricultural microbiology and microbial biostimulants can improve nutrient use efficiency, strengthen crop resilience and support more sustainable agricultural production.