Rapeseeds

Rapeseed is the most widely cultivated oilseed in the world. Originating in the Netherlands, rapeseed has spread throughout the world thanks to its excellent properties and is a truly unique crop.

The production of rapeseed oil has a long history. Until now, rapeseed oil was used exclusively for technical purposes. The use of rapeseed as a food product began with the development of a rapeseed hybrid in the Channel, called canola. Canola oil does not have the unpleasant mustard flavor of conventional rapeseed oil and contains only minimal amounts of harmful acids.

Rapeseed is very productive, and the technology for extracting oil from this plant is very simple and economical. Its applications are also growing. Recently, rapeseed oil has become an important raw material for the production of biodiesel, an environmentally friendly fuel.

In general, it is a great plant that can be used in cooking, technology, and cosmetics. Its high yield and simple processing technology make it a great choice.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) belongs to the Brassica family. This is an unusual plant, so I’ll deviate a bit from the topic of the site and describe some of its wonderful properties. The rapeseed flowers themselves, especially in rapeseed fields, are so wonderfully beautiful that they are difficult to describe. Rapeseed flowers and rapeseed fields are best viewed in person or admired in photographs. I’ve posted some photos of rapeseed in this article and, as in other articles, hope to add new photos from time to time. Admire, copy, and I’ll tell you a little about the properties of this wonderful plant.

Rapeseed Oil

Oil extracted from rapeseed is successfully processed into diesel fuel. Sooner or later, the earth’s petroleum reserves will be depleted. They are present in too small quantities in shale rock. Under these conditions, rapeseed is a good alternative to petroleum.

The main characteristics of rapeseed oil are:

• high transparency;
• ability to remain intact for a long time;
• high oleic acid content;
• presence of vitamin E;
• anti-cholesterol effect.

Rapeseed oil is used in the production of medicines and cosmetics. It is contained in various creams and cosmetics for hair care.

No less important is the environmental friendliness of rapeseed oil. For this reason, it is often used in industry as a base for lubricants. The consumption of rapeseed oil as fuel for biodiesel engines and heating systems is increasing worldwide.

Rapeseed is currently a very popular crop, widely used in manufacturing and the food industry. In this regard, there is a trend towards increasing production of this crop. The leaders in rapeseed cultivation are Canada and China. However, other Asian countries, as well as the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, and Russia, also account for a significant share of the harvest.

Rapeseed is harvested when the seeds are ripe: the pods are yellow-green, the moisture content of the ripe seeds is 9–12%, and the pods must be yellow-green. There are winter and spring rapeseed varieties; the harvesting technique is the same, only the harvest timing differs.

The price of rapeseed in the EU is derived from the Matif exchange. Currently, rapeseed costs approximately $550 per ton.