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1998-09-01
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Crowley, J.G., Fröhlich, A., Factors affecting the composition and use of camelina, End of Project Reports, Teagasc, 1998.
Abstract
Camelina (Camelina sativa), a member of the mustard family, is a summer
annual oilseed plant. Winter hardy types also exist. False flax and Gold of
Pleasure are the popular common names for the crop. The crop was widely
grown in Eastern Europe and Russia up to the early 1940’s but was replaced with
the introduction and widespread use of oilseed rape.
The revival of interest in camelina oil is due to its high linolenic acid (38%)
content. Linolenic acid is one of the OMEGA-3 fatty acids which are generally
found in substantial quantities only in linseed and fish oils. Camelina offers an
opportunity to supply the growing demand for high quality edible oils rich in
OMEGA-3 fatty acids.
A three year study established that camelina is a very suitable crop to grow in
Ireland, producing 2.5 t/ha of high quality seed (42-47%) with no agrochemical
inputs required. The oil contains 35 to 40% linolenic acid compared to 8% in
rape and soya oils. The oil does not deteriorate during refining or storage and
can be used in a number of oil based products such as spreads and salad
dressings.