A groundbreaking international study led in part by Dr. Amber Sciligo, Senior Director of The Organic Center, has been named the U.S. National Champion for the prestigious Frontiers Planet Prize, recognizing research with transformative potential for people and the planet.

The study, titled “Joint environmental and social benefits from diversified agriculture,” was published in Science in 2023 and found that widespread agricultural diversification can benefit both the environment and food security without sacrificing yield.

Sciligo and her co-authors are now among 19 national champions vying to be named one of three International Champions, each of whom will receive $1 million in research funding. Winners will be announced in June during a ceremony in Switzerland hosted by the Frontiers Research Foundation.

The Frontiers Planet Prize honors scientific excellence in Earth system and planetary health research, spotlighting solutions that help humanity stay within the safe operating space of the planet’s ecosystems.

“Innovative yet scalable solutions are the only way for us to ensure healthy lives on a healthy planet,” said Professor Jean-Claude Burgelman, Director of the Frontiers Planet Prize. “By spotlighting the most groundbreaking research, we help scientists bring their work to the international stage and inform the policies we need.”

Research Highlights

The paper’s findings are based on data from 2,655 farms across 11 countries and five continents, evaluating the impacts of diversification strategies—such as incorporating a variety of crops and animals, and improving soil, water, and habitat management.

Key findings include:

• Increased biodiversity and ecosystem services on diversified farms
• No reduction in yields, with potential gains in food security—especially in smallholder systems
• Greater benefits with more diversified practices, supporting a shift away from monoculture-based models

“This research challenges the myth that industrial monoculture is the only path to feeding the world,” said Sciligo. “It shows that increasing biodiversity across farms of all sizes can restore healthy ecosystems depleted by simplified systems and chemical inputs.”

 

Sciligo expressed gratitude for being named a national champion and praised the Frontiers Research Foundation’s commitment to financially supporting this work. “It sends a powerful signal to other funders to invest in science that supports both people and the planet,” she said.

Launched on Earth Day 2022, the Frontiers Planet Prize invites universities to nominate top researchers advancing knowledge within the planetary boundaries framework. Winners are selected by an independent jury of 100 sustainability experts, chaired by renowned scientist Professor Johan Rockström.