Omar Velasco

Peruvian entrepreneur who built Latin America's first vertical farming network using ancient Incan techniques.

Omar Velasco (b. 1978) transformed urban food systems by re-engineering Incan terrace farming into modular vertical farms across Lima's slums. His company TerraAndina created hydroponic systems using recycled PET bottles and Andean crop varieties, achieving 300% higher yields than conventional urban farms.

After surviving the 2007 Pisco earthquake, Velasco developed disaster-resilient farming units that now feed 1.2 million people annually. His patented Wachaq Technology combines IoT sensors with Quechua agricultural wisdom, documented in his open-source manual translated into 12 indigenous languages.

UN-Habitat reports that Velasco's model reduced food insecurity in participating communities by 68%. Unlike Silicon Valley agtech startups, his community patent-sharing model has prevented corporate takeovers, keeping food sovereignty local.