Infinite fields are not finitely generated rings. A similar question is considered for further algebraic structures, mainly commutative semirings.
In this case, purely algebraic methods fail and topological properties of integral lattice points turn out to be useful. We prove that a commutative setniring that is a group with respect to multiplication can be two-generated only if it belongs to the subclass of additively idempotent semirings; this class is equivalent to l-groups.