Rapeseed oil

People use oil from small seeds.

This oil comes from a plant. It helps us cook yummy food.

It is also used in many things. We use it in candles and ink. We even use it to power cars. People have used these seeds for a long time. Some used them for lamps a long time ago. It is a very useful oil for our world.

Rapeseed oil comes from the seeds of certain plants.

People have used these seeds for a very long time. Records show they were used in India 4,000 years ago. In the 13th century, people in Northern Europe used the oil for lamps.

Today, we often use a special kind of rapeseed oil called canola oil.

Scientists made canola in Canada during the 1970s. They wanted an oil that was safe for eating. They bred the plants to have very little erucic acid. This is a natural part of some rapeseed plants. High levels of it can be bad for some animals.

Canola oil is very useful. It is the third most used vegetable oil in the world. We use it to fry food, bake, and make salad dressings. It is also used for things like candles and ink. Some people even use it as biodiesel to power cars. This is because it has a low carbon footprint. In 2023, Canada, China, Germany, and India were the top producers. Together, they made over half of the world's supply.

Rapeseed oil is one of the oldest vegetable oils in the world.

It comes from the seeds of plants in the mustard family. People have used these seeds for thousands of years. Records show they were used in India 4,000 years ago. In China and Japan, people used them 2,000 years ago. By the 13th century, people in Northern Europe used the oil for lamps. It was even used in lighthouses and railway coaches. Today, this oil is very important for food and industry. It is the third most used vegetable oil on Earth.

Making canola oil is a careful, step-by-step process.

First, a facility slightly heats and crushes the seeds. Most commercial oil is then extracted using a solvent called hexane. This solvent is recovered at the end of the work. Next, the oil is refined to make it clean. Workers use water and organic acid to remove gums. They also use steam to take away strong smells. Sometimes, the oil is bleached to make it a lighter color. About 44% of every seed becomes oil.

Canola is a special type of rapeseed bred for eating.

Scientists at the University of Manitoba created it in the early 1970s. They wanted an oil with very low erucic acid. High levels of this acid can be bad for some animals. The name "canola" comes from "can" for Canada and "ola" for oil. This name helps people know it is safe for food. In the 1990s, scientists also made varieties that resist pests. By 2011, about 26% of the world's canola was genetically modified.

Many different countries grow this crop every year.

In 2023, the world produced 31 million tonnes of rapeseed oil. Canada, China, Germany, and India are the biggest producers. These four countries together made 54% of the total supply. Each of these leaders produced more than four million tonnes. In the United States, many canola crops are also genetically modified. In 2005, that number was 87% of the US crop. This shows how much the world relies on these plants.

We use canola oil in many surprising ways. It is a key ingredient for baking and frying food. You might find it in margarine or salad dressings. It is also used to make cosmetics like lipstick. Some people use it for industrial items like printer ink. Even cars can use it as biodiesel fuel. This is because canola has a lower carbon footprint than regular diesel. It is a very versatile gift from the plant world.

Rapeseed oil is a versatile vegetable oil derived from the seeds of plants in the Brassicaceae family. This plant family includes familiar items like mustard, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. While many varieties exist, there is a major distinction between industrial and edible types. The term "rapeseed" usually refers to oilseeds from the species Brassica napus or Brassica rapa. When these seeds are bred specifically for human and animal consumption, the resulting oil is called canola. Canola is defined as low erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) oil. To be sold as canola in places like Canada and the United States, the oil must contain less than 2% erucic acid.

The manufacturing process for commercial canola oil involves several precise chemical and mechanical steps. First, a processing facility applies slight heat to the seeds before crushing them. Most commercial producers then use a solvent called hexane to extract the oil from the crushed seeds. This hexane is recovered at the end of the process to be used again. After extraction, the oil undergoes refining to ensure it is safe and high quality. Workers use water precipitation and organic acids to remove gums and free fatty acids. The oil is then filtered to improve its color. Finally, steam distillation is used for deodorizing, and sometimes the oil is bleached to achieve a lighter appearance.

Different types of rapeseed oil serve very different purposes in the world. Non-food varieties used for industry are often called colza oil. In some regions, specialized processing methods create unique culinary oils. For example, Chinese rapeseed oil is made by roasting seeds and using an expeller press. This method results in a greenish color and a distinctive taste used in Sichuan cuisine. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, some chefs prefer cold-pressed rapeseed oil. Because cold-pressing uses less heat, the oil has a lower smoke point. This makes it different from the heat-stable oils used in other parts of the world.

History shows that humans have cultivated these oilseeds for thousands of years. Documentation traces the use of rapeseed back 4,000 years to India. In China and Japan, its use was recorded 2,000 years ago. In Northern Europe, people used the oil in lamps starting in the 13th century. It was even used in lighthouses and for lighting railway coaches in the United Kingdom. The modern era of canola began in the early 1970s at the University of Manitoba. Scientists there used gas liquid chromatography at the National Research Council of Canada to breed new varieties. The name "canola" is a portmanteau, combining "can" from Canada and "ola" from oil.

Global production of this oil is massive and highly concentrated in specific regions. In 2023, the total world production reached 31 million tonnes. Canada, China, Germany, and India are the leading producers. Each of these four countries produces more than four million tonnes annually. Together, these four nations account for 54% of the entire world supply. The crop is also a major part of modern biotechnology. In 2011, about 26% of the 31 million hectares of canola grown worldwide was genetically modified. In the United States, 87% of the canola grown was genetically modified as of 2005.

Canola oil is valued for its specific nutritional profile and its many uses. The oil is 100% fat, consisting of 63% monounsaturated fat and 28% polyunsaturated fat. It is also a significant source of vitamin E and vitamin K. Because of its high unsaturated fat content, the FDA has issued a qualified health claim regarding its role in heart health. Beyond the kitchen, canola oil is a key industrial ingredient. It is used to make biodiesel, which has a lower carbon footprint than conventional diesel. It is also used in products like industrial lubricants, candles, lipsticks, and newspaper inks.

The biology of the rapeseed plant also impacts how it is used in agriculture. About 44% of a seed is oil, while the rest becomes canola meal. This meal is a high-protein resource used to feed fish and farm animals. However, scientists must manage chemicals called glucosinolates during production. These chemicals can be concentrated in the seed meal and may be toxic to some livestock. Through careful breeding, scientists have also reduced erucic acid levels significantly. In western Canada, levels dropped from 0.5% in the 1990s to just 0.01% by 2015. This evolution from a wild mustard relative to a refined food source shows the power of agricultural science.