Crops Oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera)

Fields of oilseed rape have now become a familiar sight across much of Europe, but it is not a recent introduction. The species, which includes forage rape and swede, is native to Europe, was probably used during Neolithic times, and has been cultivated in Northern Europe since the Middle Ages. One early use was as a pioneer crop in land reclamation schemes, notably in the Polders and the Fens: subsequently the seed oil was used for illumination and lubrication. Recently, production has been concentrated on varieties containing minimal levels of erucic acid in the oil, which is used for salad and cooking purposes and in the production of margarine; the high-protein press cake is included in livestock rations, though this use is limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors including glucosinolates. Rapeseed oil has become an important commodity in world trade, the principal areas of production being Europe, Canada, the Indian subcontinent and China. Low-erucic acid oil is now also used for manufacturing purposes and has proved suitable, following work pioneered in Austria, as a substitute, lower-polluting, fuel for diesel engines (biodiesel); high-erucic acid types have once more become important for applications in the lubricant and plastics industries, so limited areas of these are now also grown.

This entry forms part of the publication Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe

References:

Anon (1996a) Developments in Oilseeds: NIAB Sparsholt Conference. Proceedings of a meeting on 8th February 1996 at Sparsholt College, Winchester, Hampshire. Cambridge: NIAB.

Carruthers, S P Marsh, J S, Turner, P W, Ellis, F B, Murphy, D J, Slabas, T & Chapman, B A (1995) Industnal Markets for UK-Produced Oilseeds. HGCA Research Review No OS9. London: HGCA.

Carruthers, S P Miller, F A & Vaughan, C M A (Eds) (1994) Crops for Industry and Energy. Report No 15. Reading: Centre for Agricultural Strategy

Chisholm, C J (Ed) (1994) Towards a UK Research Strategy For Alternative Crops. Silsoe: Silsoe Research Institute.

Langer, R H M & Hill, G D (1991) Agricultural Plants (2nd Edn) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Robellen, G, Downey, K R & Ashri, A (Eds) (1989) Oil Crops of the World: their Breeding and Utilisation New York: McGraw-Hill.

Salunkhe, D K, Chaven, J K, Adsule, R N & Kadam, S S (1992) World Oilseeds: Chemistry Technology and Utilisation. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Sauer, J D (1994) Historical Geography of Crop Plants: a Select Roster. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Ward, J T, Basford, W D, Hawkins, J H & Halliday, J M (1985) Oilseed rape. Ipswich: Farming Press Ltd.

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Relevant EC funded projects:
AIR-0169
AIR-0825
AIR-0879
AIR-0967
AIR-1023
AIR-1206
AIR-1162
AIR-1941
AIR-2218
AGRE-0006
AGRE-0010
AGRE-0022
AGRE-0039
AGRE-0061
FAIR-0260
FAIR-0364
FAIR-0512
FAIR-1314
FAIR-1625
FAIR-1669
FAIR-1946
FAIR-2069
FAIR-3072