Mario Perez

Uruguayan innovator who created the first urban farming network in Montevideo

Mario Perez (b. 1972) revolutionized urban agriculture in Latin America through his Fundación Huertos Urbanos established in 1998. His 'Vertical Gardens' project transformed 200+ rooftops and abandoned lots into productive farms, providing 15% of Montevideo's fresh produce by 2005. Perez's system of hydroponic towers and rainwater harvesting systems reduced the city's food import dependency by 30%. His 2003 book 《The Urban Farming Revolution》 became a blueprint for similar initiatives in Buenos Aires and Santiago. In 2008, he developed the world's first mobile app for urban gardeners (HuertosApp), connecting 5,000+ growers across 12 countries. His work was recognized by the FAO with the 2010 Global Food Security Award. Perez's TED Talk on 'Reinventing Cities Through Food' has over 2 million views, inspiring projects in Cairo and Jakarta. His most recent initiative, Solar Agro, combines solar energy with farming to create off-grid food systems in remote regions.