Jose Reyes Ortiz

A visionary Ecuadorian engineer who invented the first solar-powered irrigation system in Latin America, revolutionizing agriculture in arid regions.

Jose Reyes Ortiz (1915–1974) transformed farming in South America's dry regions through his groundbreaking engineering innovations. Born in the sun-drenched Loja province of Ecuador, he witnessed crop failures due to water scarcity. While studying engineering in Quito, he developed a prototype solar still in 1942 that could extract drinkable water from saline groundwater—a concept later adopted by UNESCO's water projects. His 1953 invention of the Reyes Solar Distillation Unit used parabolic mirrors to desalinate seawater, providing irrigation for coastal farms.

In 1961, he created the world's first fully solar-powered drip irrigation system, which tripled crop yields in Ecuador's semi-arid regions. His Reyes-Herrera method became a template for sustainable agriculture, adopted across Peru and Chile. Despite initial skepticism, his systems were endorsed by the FAO in 1965. His 1968 book Light from the Sun: Harnessing Solar Energy for Agriculture remains a reference in renewable energy circles.

Reyes' work laid the foundation for modern solar irrigation technologies. The José Reyes Foundation continues promoting his techniques, with over 500 solar farms operational today. His legacy is particularly relevant in climate change discussions, as his methods are now used in drought-prone regions like the Sahel. His story is chronicled in the Smithsonian's Latin American Innovation exhibit.