Sprunger receives TAP Award, recognized as changemaker in global food security

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station faculty member Christine Sprunger is one of 39 visionaries named to the 2025 Top Agri-food Pioneers, or TAP, list by the World Food Prize Foundation.

Now in its second year, the TAP list honors individuals driving bold and innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges in global food security. This year’s honorees span 27 countries and one territory and range in age from 20 to 79, representing a powerful cross-section of experience, geography and expertise.

“The 2025 TAP list showcases the extraordinary diversity, talent and resolve of individuals working across borders and disciplines to build a more sustainable and just global food system,” said Mashal Husain, president of the World Food Prize Foundation. “In a world facing urgent and interwoven crises, these honorees are fearless changemakers driving impact where it matters most—and offering real hope for the future.”

Christine Sprunger

Christine Sprunger is an assistant professor of soil health in Michigan State University’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and the Plant Resilience Institute, and a resident faculty member at the Kellogg Biological Station, or KBS.

She is a leading researcher in regenerative agriculture and soil health, whose work has transformed sustainable farming systems. She developed novel methodologies to use nematodes as bioindicators for soil health, linking soil biodiversity to productivity, carbon storage, and climate resilience. Sprunger’s studies, including in global change biology, soil biology, and biochemistry, have advanced knowledge of how agricultural management affects nutrient availability and carbon storage potential.

As director of an interdisciplinary research group at KBS, she mentors emerging scientists while securing major grants for climate-resilient agriculture. Sprunger’s innovative, collaborative work positions her as a rising global leader in agri-food sustainability.

See the full list of awardees here.