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All About Canola
* There are multiple short video that shows how canola is made into canola oil.
Click here and then click on the pictures in the site to watch the video.
Canola is a combined word meaning Canada's Oil.
Canola was developed in the 1970s by Canadian plant scientists. It has become a very important crop for Canadian farmers. Canola seeds are about 40 percent oil.
This canola oil is low in saturated fat and is an excellent food choice for a healthy diet. The oil from canola is used for cooking and baking at home and in food processing plants. It also goes for industrial uses such as fuels and plastics.
Canola meal, the part left over after the seeds are crushed and the oil extracted, is used for animal feed, pet food and fertilizer.
About 11 million acres of canola are harvested each year in the Prairie provinces and in southern Ontario. After wheat and barley, it is now Canada’s third largest grain export.
What is Canola? What is Canola?
What is Canola?
Canola is a plant that is a member of a large family
of plants called crucifers. Crucifers are easy to
identify because the four yellow flower petals
form the shape of a cross. Canola belongs to a section (or genus) of the
crucifer family called Brassica. As well as canola,
Brassica plants include mustard, Brussels sprouts,
cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and turnip. Brassicas
are a major source of food in many countries,
including Canada.
How does Canola grow?
On the farm, these plants grow to a height of one to two metres.
The yellow flower produces seed pods that are about 5 centimetres in
length. Each seed pod contains 20 to 30 round seeds. These tiny
seeds are crushed to extrude canola oil.
From germination to seed production, the life cycle of a
canola plant takes about 3 1/2 months, depending on
temperature, moisture, sunlight and soil fertility.
Canola is a cool-season crop. It grows particularly well on
the prairies, where cool night temperatures allow it to recover
from hot days.
Where did Canola come from?
The name “Canola” was registered in Canada in 1970. The name comes
from Can as in Canada and ola as in oil! The plant was developed by
Canadian scientists who selected rapeseed opulations looking for a crop
that would produce a healthy, edible oil product.
Rapeseed was not an edible product, but it grew well in Canada. Most of the
oil Canadians used for food purposes was imported and people wanted a
home-grown edible oil.
Canola was selected from rapeseed through the knowledge and ingenuity of
prairie plant scientists. Canola is NOT rapeseed. It may look the same but it’s
nutritional makeup is totally different. Canola came about only after years of
hard work, research and countless field tests of new plant varieties.
Canola oil has a complement of fatty acids that make it one of the
healthiest edible oils. Canola meal is a nutritious livestock feed.
Today, Canadians consume more canola oil per person than any other
country in the world. In Canada, canola oil has captured about 80
percent of the salad oil market, 60 percent of the shortening
market, and 45 percent of the margarine market. Other
large markets for Canadian canola include Japan, the
United States, Mexico and China.
Put Good Fat in Your Body !
Some people think that all fat is bad. In truth, fats perform many functions in the
human body. They help keep us warm, provide energy and regulate the immune
system. They contain essential fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids. Fats also improve
the taste of many foods.
Canola is one of the healthiest cooking oils available to consumers. It contains only
seven percent saturated fats, which has been shown to contribute to heart disease.
Cholesterol-lowering monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat, both essential
sources of energy, are the largest components of canola. Of all commonly used
vegetable oils, canola is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce
cholesterol in the bloodstream. Canola is cholesterol free, contains no trans fat and
is high in Vitamin E.
What is Made from Canola?
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FOOD PRODUCTS
FROM CANOLA OIL:
• Shortening
• Liquid shortening
• Margarine
• Salad oil
• Cooking spray
• Mayonnaise
• Sandwich spread
• Coffee whitener
• Creamer
• Cookies
• Crackers
• Cake mixes
• Bread
• Snack foods |
NON-FOOD PRODUCTS:
• Dust depressants
• De-icer for airplanes
• Printing ink
• Suntan oil
• Antistatic for paper
and plastic wrap
• Biodegradable greases
• Bioplastics
FROM CANOLA MEAL:
• Livestock feed
• Poultry feed
• Pet food
• Fish food
• Fertilizer |
Canola Contributes to Canada's Economy
In 2003-04, Canada exported 719 tonnes of canola
oil, 1.5 million tonnes of canola meal and 3.75 million
tonnes of seed. The value of these exports is about
$2 billion per year and represents about 12 percent
of agri-food exports from Canada.
Our largest customers are the United States which
imports about 80 percent of Canada’s canola oil,
Japan which imports about 25 percent of Canada’s
canola seed, Mexico and China. Canadian farmers use
almost 40 percent of the meal produced here
"The Fathers of Canola"
Dr. Baldur Stefansson and Dr. Keith Downey have had an immense impact on Canadian agriculture,
particularly their contributions to developing canola.
Dr. Stefansson was a University of Manitoba plant breeder, who developed the first canola variety
from rapeseed. Tower, a Brassica napus or Argentine canola, was released in 1974.
Dr. Downey led a team of scientists at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that developed Candle, the first Brassica rapa or Polish canola.
In addition to developing the first canola lines, the two pioneers were heavily involved in gaining
acceptance for the crop. They attended countless farmer and industry meetings and worked closely
with those who advised farmers.
Canola has become a household name in Canada and around the globe and is now a significant
contributor to Canada's net trade balance, thanks in part to the efforts of Dr. Stefansson and
Dr. Downey.
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