Rapeseed
A cool-climate oilseed, known as canola in Canada, crushed into cooking oil, biodiesel and protein meal for livestock.
Oilseeds & oils · No. 93
- Not on a critical list
- HHI 1,239 · unconcentrated
Canola is rapeseed bred to make its oil fit to eat, and Europe also burns the crop as biodiesel.
Chart: Illustration: Rapeseed
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
A cousin of mustard and cabbage, rapeseed is sown in late summer in Europe and as spring canola in Canada and Australia. World output was 87.9 Mt in 2024.
Three things to know
- World rapeseed output rose from 24.4 Mt in 1990 to 87.9 Mt in 2024, helped by canola breeding and biodiesel mandates.
- Canada, China and India together grew 56.2% of the world's rapeseed in 2024.
- Indian mustard keeps its high erucic acid and pungency, which is prized in kachi ghani oil.
The journey
- 1 FieldWinter rapeseed or spring canola
- 2 HarvestSwathed or harvested directly
- 3 CrushingPressed and solvent extracted
- 4 Oil and mealCrude oil plus protein meal
- 5 End usesCooking oil, biodiesel and livestock feed