• by Amy Corr  @MediaPostOTL, July 1, 2015

UTEC (University of Engineering & Technology) used engineering to solve a contamination problem in the Bujama region of Peru. Irrigation comes from local rivers, but these rivers are contaminated with arsenic, lead or cadmium, which then seeps into nearby farmland and crops. The university created an "Air Orchard" billboard that grows pollution-free lettuce using irrigated moisture from the air. The billboard consists of 10 large dehumidifiers that carry water through a series of tubes coated in nutrients. The PVC tubes reflect the sun's rays and boost photosynthesis. The result is 2,800 heads of lettuce that are given away weekly to passersby who stop and inquire about the billboard. See how the billboard works here, created by FCB Mayo Peru.