Maria Angelica Santos

Revolutionized urban agriculture in Brazil's favelas through vertical farming initiatives

Maria Angelica Santos is a Brazilian agricultural engineer whose work in vertical farming has transformed food security in Rio de Janeiro's favelas. Establishing Verduras do Brasil in 2020, she developed low-cost vertical hydroponic systems using recycled materials. These modular units allow families to grow nutrient-rich vegetables in 10 square feet of space, reducing food costs by 60% for participating households. Her 2022 invention of solar-powered irrigation systems powered by banana peel biochar won the UN Climate Solutions Award. Maria's program now operates in 120 communities, training over 5,000 residents in sustainable farming techniques. Her peer-reviewed research on urban micro-farms' nutritional impact has been adopted by FAO guidelines. In 2024, she partnered with Nike to create wearables monitoring plant health through IoT sensors, expanding into São Paulo's peripheries. Maria's TEDx talk "How favelas are growing their own future" has become a blueprint for urban sustainability initiatives globally. Her work is chronicled in the documentary 《Vertical Roots》, showing how marginalized communities are leading agricultural innovation.