Leadership efforts to demonstrate VFIC impact to state, federal legislatures and industry stakeholders (selected events are listed below)

• Co-chair, Goal-3 and member of steering committee-National Vegetable Research Initiative-This is a national level joint effort between industry-academic.

• Communicated the impact of VFIC research, educational and outreach activities to the state and federal legislatures. Group of industry stakeholders joined every year.
• Participated in Ag Day at the State Capitol, Austin.TX- April 2007. approximately 1,200 state legislative staff and general public visitors.

• From 2005, new session on “VFIC’s emerging research related to Foods for Health by the VFIC scientists” was introduced and four key VFIC scientists research is being featured during the Texas Producers Convention every year.
• Invited for the Congressional Briefing on “Food for Health” which was hosted by the Senate Agriculture Committee- April 14, 2003, Russell Hall, Washington, D.C.
• Patil’s research program was selected to exhibit poster entitled “Fighting Cancer with Food” in the “Agricultural Research and Education Serving the Nation in Food and Health” as a part of the “Science on the Capitol Hill” organized by the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) in Washington DC, March 6, 2001.   Participants include representatives from Texas: U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa and Charles Stenholm and Vice Chancellor, Director of Extension and Director of Communication.
• Hosted atleast 30 visitors group/year- Visitors included state and federal legislatures, global ambassadors, industry stakeholders, academic scientists, key administrators from national and global universities.
• Invited to participate in the S-294 Research Showcase as part of the United  Fresh’2012 convention in Dallas, TX, April 29-May 2, 2012. This was a special invitation to display research and development of VFIC and Carrot human intervention studies.
• Presented a poster and participated in the New Variety and Research Showcase as part of the United ’01 convention in Tampa, FL, March 18-20, 2001. This was a special invitation to display research and development of grapefruit health benefits as a part of an international convention for the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association.
• Presented two posters and participated in the New Variety and Research Showcase as part of the United ’99 convention in San Diego, February 5-7, 1999.