Ramesh Ramanathan

A tech innovator using technology to improve access to education and healthcare in rural India

Ramesh Ramanathan (born 1978) is an Indian technologist and social entrepreneur who co-founded Digital Green, an organization that leverages low-cost technology to empower small-scale farmers in India and other developing countries. His work focuses on creating scalable solutions to bridge the gap between agricultural knowledge and rural communities. Digital Green’s video-based extension system has trained over 20 million farmers across 30 countries, enabling them to adopt sustainable farming practices that boost productivity and resilience against climate change. Ramanathan also pioneered the use of mobile technology for health education in rural areas, partnering with governments to deliver maternal and child healthcare information. His innovations have been recognized by the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which funded large-scale expansions of his programs. Beyond his technical contributions, Ramanathan advocates for inclusive tech policies that prioritize marginalized communities. Learn more about Digital Green’s impact at their official site, or explore peer-reviewed studies on their methods in journals like Nature Sustainability.