Mexican urbanist Tomás Rivera launched "AgriBillboards" in Mexico City, converting derelict construction sites into vertical farms with LED-lit crop panels. Each structure combines hydroponic systems with digital billboards that display real-time growth data, engaging passersby through gamified harvest challenges.
Rivera's design uses recycled shipping containers stacked with modular planters, irrigated by rainwater collected via wind-powered turbines. The LED arrays shift colors based on plant health, creating dynamic art installations while optimizing crop yields. The pilot project produced 8 tons of leafy greens monthly, distributed to local schools through food cooperatives.
"This is agriculture as public infrastructure," Rivera stated. His model has been adopted in Lima and Johannesburg, with São Paulo's metro authority commissioning AgriBillboards for subway ventilation shafts.