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Bhimu Patil, Ph.D. Director I Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center |
Bhimu Patil received his B.S and M.S. in Agriculture from University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore and Dharwad in 1984 and 1986 respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Horticulture from Texas A&M University in 1994. Dr. Patil served as Associate Director from 2002-2004 and Director from 2005-present, of the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center. He has been a member of the graduate faculty department of Horticulture since 1997 and also a member of Intercollegiate Faculty of Nutrition and Molecular and Environment Plant Sciences. Bhimu research emphasis is on ‘foods for health’. His research on isolation and characterization of naturally occurring compounds has started to provide ‘proof of concept’ of role of vegetables and fruits in human health. Additionally, his research is focused on pre and postharvest effects on bioactive compounds in citrus, pepper, onion, melons, and pomegranate. He has developed two multi-disciplinary and multi state first-of-its kind course, “Science of Foods for Health” and “Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Human Health” which are being offered at several universities. ‘The future of the ‘foods for health’ research area depends upon a “consumer to farm” rather than “farm to consumer” approach. Therefore, a systems-wide approach using multidisciplinary research will be critical to providing global food and nutritional security.’ |