Rajeev Kumar Varshney FRS (born 13 July 1973) is an Indian agricultural scientist, specializing in genomics, genetics, molecular breeding and capacity building in developing countries.

He has the onus of establishing and nurturing the Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology (CEGSB), a globally recognized center for genomics research at ICRISAT that made impacts on improving agriculture and development of human resources in several countries including India, China, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, etc.

Varshney is a globally recognized leader for his work on genome sequencing, cataloguing and utilizing genetic diversity, genomics-assisted breeding, seed system and capacity building in developing countries.

He has presented research and novel concepts related to food and nutrition security in several high-level fora such as: G8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture on Open Data in Genomics and Modern Breeding for Crop Improvement,[7] organized by US and UK Governments in the World Bank (2013); Brainstorming session on Digital Revolution for Agriculture at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in (2012);[8] Brainstorming session on DNA Fingerprinting for Impact Assessment, BMGF, USA (2018); FAO's international conference on Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries in Mexico (2010);[9] FAO's Regional Conference on Agricultural Bio technologies in Sustainable Foods Systems and Nutrition in Asia-Pacific Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017)[10] etc.

Varshney’s research and interviews have been published in many Indian/ International print and electronic media including TV channels and radio programs.

Varshney’s research and interviews have been published in many reputed media houses including TV channels and radio programs e.g.

[91] Varshney has delivered invited presentations in several high-level meetings related to international agricultural research including: (i) Plenary Talk in 30th PAG USA (the world’s largest genomics conference) in Jan 2023, (ii) G8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture on Open Data in Genomics and Modern Breeding for Crop Improvement, organized by US and UK Governments in the World Bank 29–30 April 2013], (iii) brainstorming session on Digital Revolution for Agriculture at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in July 2012, (iv) brainstorming session on DNA Fingerprinting for Impact Assessment, BMGF, USA (2018), (v) FAO's international conference on Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries in Mexico (2010), (vi) FAO's Regional Conference on Agricultural Bio technologies in Sustainable Foods Systems and Nutrition in Asia-Pacific Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017), (vii) Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting on Article 17 (Global Information System) of International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture of United Nations' FAO (2016), (viii) Quality of Research Workshop organized by CGIAR (2017), (ix) Science Forum of CGIAR in Wageningen, The Netherlands (2009).

While serving international agriculture in developing countries, Varshney had privilege to meet several high profile and influential personalities from science, society and politics that includes Noble Laureate (Late) Dr Norman Borlaug,[92] Mr Bill Gates, co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Mr Narendra Modi,[93] the prime minister of India.

Varshney has edited/ co-edited several books that makes significant contribution to agricultural science, plant genomics, molecular breeding etc.