Dr. Bhimu Patil has been named the new director of Texas A&M University's Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center in College Station.

Patil, who was a citrus scientist at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center at Weslaco, will assume his duties Jan. 3. He replaces Dr. Leonard Pike, who created the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center in 1992. Pike will retire as director of the center in January, but continue as a researcher there on a part-time basis.

Patil gained acclaim for his Rio Grande Valley research linking citrus phytonutrients, or naturally-occurring compounds, with the prevention of chronic human diseases, including certain cancers and heart disease.

His distance education course on phytonutrients and their benefits to human health also brought him recognition. The courses were taught via video conferencing to college students throughout the country and included guest lecturers from some of the nation's most prestigious medical institutions.

Patil was a graduate student in Pike's horticulture laboratory almost 13 years ago when Pike established what was then called the Vegetable Improvement Center. In March 1999, fruit was officially added to the name and research scope of the center.

The Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center was designed to conduct research to develop new technologies for producing quality produce with health and nutrition benefits.

In announcing the appointment, Dr. Ed Hiler, the Texas A&M University System vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences, said Patil is the right person at the right time to head the center.

"The future of agriculture and the future support of agriculture in the United States will come from food for health initiatives -- agricultural and medical researchers working together to reduce diet-related chronic human diseases," Hiler said.

"The area Dr. Patil works in is where agriculture needs to be going, and he already has strong links with the top major medical institutions of this country. Dr. Patil has been very productive in his career and he is very familiar with the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, having worked so long with Dr. Pike."

Patil, a native of India, began his professional career at the Citrus Center in Weslaco in 1997, first as assistant professor of plant physiology, then as associate professor in 2002 when he was also named associate director of the VFIC.

Dr. John DaGraca, deputy director of the Citrus Center, said Patil's efforts brought recognition to the citrus research facility.

"Dr. Patil's work in phytonutrients, drug interaction, teaching and his dedication to graduate students resulted in numerous awards, several million dollars in research grants and the appreciation and respect of the citrus industry here and elsewhere," DaGraca said.

Patil has mixed feelings about leaving the Rio Grande Valley, but said his career move will benefit the area's produce industries.

"I know the needs of the Valley's fruit and vegetable industries. In my new position I'll be able to expand citrus and vegetable research, encouraging scientists to work on crops related to Valley agriculture," he said.

Among those who supported Patil as the new director of the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center is David Drews, of the Harris Moran Seed Co. and chair of the center's advisory committee. "We're delighted to have Dr. Patil as director," Drews said. "We know that the center will remain in good hands. And with Dr. Patil's vast knowledge of agriculture in the Valley, we're confident that he will help increase and improve the many human health benefits of vegetables and fruits, particularly citrus."

Dr. Ron Rosati, dean of agriculture and human sciences at Texas A&M-Kingsville, said Patil's appointment is a testament to the quality of faculty at the Citrus Center.

"It's a credit to the Citrus Center that officials would look there to fill such a major and prestigious position in the Texas A&M University System. It speaks well of the Citrus Center and certainly of Bhimu, a brilliant scientist ideally qualified for this new position whose hard work has done so much for the citrus industry," Rosati said.

Patil said the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center has a total of about 25 scientists from various departments at Texas A&M, all working to identify and enhance nutrients in fruits and vegetables that can prevent human diseases.

"The center has been productive because it is supported by 48 agricultural industries throughout the country and a few from Europe and Australia," he said. "I've already developed an MOU (memorandum of
understanding) with a university in India and we will be looking to expand to any country that is interested in research that would increase the benefits of food for health."

On a more personal note, Patil said his passion and goal is to develop scientific proof to convince people to consume more fruits and vegetables to help prevent, if not cure, chronic diseases such as cancer, which took the life of his father 15 years ago, and heart disease, which claimed his brother in 2000.

"My family may not have enjoyed the benefits of this type of research, but I want others to benefit from it for generations to come," Patil said.