CBMM Awards Celebrate Brazilian Innovations in Science and Technology
The 8th CBMM Science and Technology Award honored Professor Jorge Kalil for immunology research and Dra. Christiane Paiva for agricultural innovations, highlighting significant Brazilian scientific and technological advancements.
- • Prof. Dr. Jorge Kalil won the Science category for immunology research on immune response and organ transplant mechanisms.
- • Dra. Christiane Paiva won the Technology category for developing BiomaPHOS, a biological product enhancing phosphorus availability in agriculture.
- • Paiva also led the development of Eficaz Control, a biofungicide aimed at controlling soil pathogens, slated for launch in 2025.
- • CBMM CEO Ricardo Lima reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Brazilian scientific and technological progress.
Key details
The 8th edition of the CBMM Science and Technology Award recognized pioneering Brazilian contributions to scientific and technological advancement, honoring two distinguished professionals on August 29, 2026. In the Science category, Prof. Dr. Jorge Kalil of the University of São Paulo was celebrated for his extensive immunology research focusing on immune response mechanisms, organ transplant rejection and tolerance, and infectious diseases such as streptococcus, HIV, dengue, and COVID-19. Kalil underscored the importance of understanding immune system mechanisms for progress across various medical fields.
The Technology award went to Dra. Christiane Abreu de Oliveira Paiva of Embrapa Milho e Sorgo for her breakthroughs in agricultural microbiology. Paiva developed BiomaPHOS, Brazil's first biological product boosting phosphorus availability in soil by utilizing beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium, helping reduce reliance on conventional mineral phosphorus sources. She also led the creation of Eficaz Control, a biofungicide targeting soil pathogens, set for commercial launch in 2025. Paiva highlighted the significance of translating laboratory findings into agricultural solutions that benefit millions of producers.
CBMM CEO Ricardo Lima affirmed the company's commitment to fostering innovations that drive societal progress within Brazil. Paiva’s work has earned multiple honors, including the 2024 Medalha Insígnia Johanna Döbereiner and the 2025 BRICS Solutions Awards for bioeconomy solutions.
These awards underscore the impact of scientific and technological exploration in Brazil, celebrating those who seek to understand "the why of things" and apply that knowledge to improve health and sustainable agriculture.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Launch date of Eficaz Control
Sources report different launch dates for the Eficaz Control biofungicide.
embrapa.br
"Eficaz Control, a biofungicide designed to combat soil pathogens, is set to be commercially launched in 2025."
brasilmineral.com.br
"The summary does not mention a launch date for Eficaz Control."
Why this matters: One source states Eficaz Control is set to be commercially launched in 2025, while the other does not specify a launch date. This discrepancy is significant as it affects understanding of when the product will be available to the market.