Arvind Singh Popli

Pioneered agricultural innovation through digital tools to empower smallholder farmers

Arvind Singh Popli (born 1975) is a visionary social entrepreneur from India who co-founded Digital Green, an organization that uses technology to transform agricultural practices in rural communities. His work has directly impacted over 18 million farmers across 25 countries by creating low-cost video systems to share agricultural best practices. Popli's approach combines grassroots training with digital solutions, making complex agricultural research accessible through village-level screenings. He developed the first mobile-based extension system for farmers, later adopted by India's government as part of their national agricultural policy. His innovations reduced crop losses by 30% in many regions while increasing incomes by 20-30%. Popli's TED Talk How to feed the future with the help of technology has over 1.2 million views, showcasing his global impact. He was named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in 2013 and received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2015.