Ana Maria Primavesi

Ana Maria Primavesi (born Annemarie Conrad; 3 October 1920 – 5 January 2020) was an agronomist, researcher and educator of soil science and especially the ecological management of tropical Brazilian soil.

Biography Born on a large farm in an Austrian village in 1920, Primavesi fell in love with nature, inspired by her father. She studied at the Faculty of Natural Resources and Life Sciences of the University of Vienna, where she was one of only three women in her class. She went on to earn a doctorate in plant and soil nutrition. They had three children together. In 1949, they migrated to Brazil because Primavesi, like many other people, was threatened with forced deportation by the Russians in Austria, which had become a very unstable country in the years immediately following World War II.

After she retired from teaching, she and her husband moved to their own property in Itaí, located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. After her husband's death in 1977, Primavesi stayed there to put into practice her research about organic agriculture. She lived on the farm for more than 30 years and authored multiple publications about her research and agriculture work. Under Primavesi's management, her land – which was badly eroded when bought – was rejuvenated with springs, forests and agricultural areas. Her success there led to many speaking invitations and research projects around the world. Honorary doctorates were awarded to Primavesi by several Brazilian universities.

Selected bibliography Dr. Primavesi published 12 books and 94 unpublished scientific texts and articles. 2004. Gaia's Gift: Earth, Ourselves and God after Copernicus . Ed. Routledge, 160 p. , 2000. Sacred Gaia: Holistic Theology and Earth System Science Hardcover . With James Lovelock Ed. Routledge 224 p. 1997. Agroecology: ecosphere, technosphere and agriculture. São Paulo: Nobel, 199 p. 1995. From apocalypse to genesis: ecology, feminism, Christianity. With Antonio Martínez Riu. Ed. Herder, 384 p. , 1992. Sustainable agriculture: rural producer manual. São Paulo: Nobel, 142 p. 1988. Ecological management of prague and doenças: alternative techniques for agricultural production and defense of the environment. São Paulo: Nobel, 137 p. 1984. Ecological management of alone: to agriculture in tropical regions. 7th ed. São Paulo (SP): Nobel, 541 p. il. In Spanish: Ecological soil management: agriculture in tropical regions. With Jorge S. Molina. 5th ed. illustrates. "El Ateneo" Book Store Editorial, 499 p.