Dr Srikanth Rupavatharam leads the Digital Agriculture initiatives and heads the iHub, ICRISATs innovation platform for AgriTech start-ups. Srikanth is a Senior Scientist in the Digital Agriculture cluster of the Global Research Program ‘Resilient Farm and Food Systems’. Srikanth holds a PhD in Postharvest technologies from Massey University, New Zealand and a Masters in the same field from Writtle College, University of Essex, UK. He is a Marshal Papworth Scholar and a recipient of the prestigious Gardner’s Prize (2005) for excellence in the field of Horticulture from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners (London). Srikanth received Helen E. Akers PhD scholarship to undertake doctoral study and awarded by the Global Challenges Research Fund sponsored ‘David Livingstone Fellowship’ from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK in 2020.
Srikanth has over 23 years of rich experience in implementing agricultural research and development projects. He has worked in diverse cultural backgrounds in the United Kingdom, Africa, Oceania (NZ) and India and has over 25 research publications to his credit.
Srikanth has expertise in conducting quality assessments using non-destructive techniques and eliciting digital agricultural strategy for Agri-Tech start-ups. Srikanth is experienced in process engineering innovations using Artificial Intelligence, UAVs (Drones), Modelling and Big Data analytics for decision support in crop nutrition and protection. Srikanth likes his work to impact smallholder farmers by building their capacities through innovative digital tools for agricultural extension and management.