” The Center is an administrative component of the Department of Horticultural Sciences. Faculty involved in Center projects are members of the Center. Center programs are jointly planned and coordinated by the Center director and an advisory committee consisting of participating department heads, research scientists and members from corporate affiliates in the vegetable and fruit industry.”

– Dr. Bhimu Patil, Director VFIC

The Center is located in the 1500 Centeq Research Plaza in the TAMU Research Park. Office and laboratory space is available for vegetable industry members to occupy and conduct cooperative research.

The responsibilities of the Center director includes all aspects of program development and management. The director works with department heads and resident AREC directors so the Center can help leverage and expand existing programs, develop strategic plans, coordinate research proposals and manage funds derived from Center activities. Involvement of all Center participants is carefully nurtured. The Center director works in a matrix management fashion with other research management to optimize planning and resources that advance vegetable research.

Participating faculty retain their department and off-campus center affiliations. They associate with the Center by mutually agreed upon criteria, such as commitment to Center objectives, potential to network with others, participate in joint projects and assist corporate members. As research needs change, additional faculty from TAMU, medical centers, other universities, federal programs and industry may participate in the Center.

The growth of the Center is determined by the ability of the participating scientists to obtain funding. The Center provides these scientists use of core units and an expanded pool of research expertise enabling scientists to compete more effectively for industry grants, federal grants and new state initiatives. The development of external cooperative industry relationships and their leadership on the advisory committee are critical in obtaining additional funding.