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AIR2-CT93-1817
Vegetable Oils with Specific Fatty Acids (VOSFA) Agricultural and Industrial Development of Novel Oilseed Crops - Final Summary Report |
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Contract No | AIR2-CT93-1817 |
| Total Cost | 2 572 349 | |
| EC Contribution | 1 286 174 | |
| Start Date | 01/01/1994 | |
| Duration | 48 months |
Vegetable Oils with Specific Fatty Acids (VOSFA)
Project Overview | MAFF - Final Report
Final Summary Report
PARTNERSHIP
The VOSFA "Vegetable Oils with Specific Fatty Acids" project was a multidisciplinary and development project bringing together producers and users of biological raw materials in co-operation with research institutes and a university. Eleven partners from five EC countries were involved investigating the potential of five novel oilseed crops: Lesquerella grandiflora, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Lunaria annua, Euphorbia lagascae and Calendula officinalis. The partners were, according to their area of interest, grouped together into three working parties:
1. Primary production working party (co-ordinator: ADAS).
The work carried out was focused on plant genetics (plant breeding, cultivar development) and on plant agronomy (plant cultivation and seed harvesting).
Partners involved:
CPRO-DLO (plant genetics, research institute, the Netherlands), VNK (seed production, company, the Netherlands), CEBECO (seed harvesting, seed production, seed cleaning, company, the Netherlands), ADAS (cultivation, harvesting, research institute, United Kingdom), SIA (cultivation, harvesting, research institute, Spain), DKFZ (toxicity study, university, Germany).
2. Oil recovery and by-products (co-ordinator TNO).
The work was focused on oil recovery from seeds and animal utilisation of seed meal.
Partners involved:
TNO Nutrition and Food Research (lab scale)oil recovery, research institute, the Netherlands), CETIOM (large scale oil recovery, research institute, France), ID-DLO (by-product analysis, research institute, the Netherlands).
3. Industrial applications (co-ordinator TNO)
The work was focused on application of the various seed oils in paints, and lubricants.
Partners involved:
DSM Resins (application in paint, company, the Netherlands), FUCHS (application in lubricants, company, Germany).
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
PROJECT WORK
The VOSFA partners have evaluated all five oilseed crops and have identified their possibilities and constraints. After two years of research it became clear that two crops (Calendula officinalis and Lunaria annua) showed the greatest potential and in consultation with the European Commission, the management committee of VOSFA decided to focus their attention on these two crops during the last two years of the project.
Lesquerella grandiflora
Of the five crops investigated, Lesquerella grandiflora showed to be the most difficult to cultivate. Many field trials failed due to poor establishment of the crop resulting in severe weed problems which could not be solved by using herbicides because of intolerance of Lesquerella to the majority of herbicides investigated. Nevertheless, large scale seed production (1.25 ha) has been conducted. Seed was harvested by combine but severe seedloss was observed due to high extent of seed shattering. Results from germplasm evaluation and selection research indicate that significant improvement in seed retention and establishment can be realised making seed production to 1400 kg/ha with 35% oil in the seeds possible. Oil recovery (oil extraction and cold pressing) has been conducted and was found to be easy. The oil showed moderate lubricant behaviour and can be applied in paint formulations. Lesquerella meal displayed potentially interesting properties as feed ingredient.
Mainly because of the low oil productions per ha it is concluded that the crop is unsuitable for commercialisation in Europe.
Euphorbia lagascae
Euphorbia lagascae was grown successfully in Spain under irrigated conditions and in South Western England under rain fed conditions. In Spain seed yield showed a positive relationship to the amount of water applied and up to 5000 kg seed per ha can be obtained. The species was shown to be adapted to Mediterranean and Western European conditions but sub-optimal seed yields were found because of seed dehiscence. Oil content in the seed was on average very high (49%) with an average vernolic acid content of 57%. Prepressing followed by hexane extraction was applied to recover the seed oil and good oil yields were obtained. Euphorbia oil performed very well in lubricants. The main constraint of this species is the release of irritating compounds when processing and handling of the seeds. Precautions and safety advises for working places and workers involved in handling or processing of irritant materials for Euphorbia lagascae were proposed. The acceptance of Euphorbia as an animal feed source is impaired by uncertainties about its toxicity
It is concluded that Euphorbia show potential as oil seed crop but for commercialisation non dehiscent genotypes must be available and precautions at the working place need to be realised.
Dimorphotheca pluvialis
Dimorphotheca pluvialis shows poor seed productions (700 to 900 kg per ha) with an average oil content of 20%. By mass selection an improvement of seed oil content to 25% could be realised and further improvement is likely. Poor heritability of most agronomic traits makes it difficult to improve its performance by breeding and selection. The oil is difficult to recover because of its high reactivity and industrial application for this oil was not established. The Dimorphotheca meal appeared unattractive for animal nutrition.
It is concluded that Dimorphotheca is far from commercialisation.
Lunaria annua
Lunaria annua is a biennial type and can produce up to 2900 kg seed per ha and is well adapted to North Western European climate. Some disease problems may occur. The oil content in the seed ranged from 25 to 37%. The principal fatty acids in the oil are erucic (C22:1) and nervonic (C24:1) acid which comprises about 40 and 26%, respectively, of the total amount of fatty acids. Annual types were developed which could produce 900 to 1400 kg seed per ha with 30 to 33% oil in the seed having 41 to 46 % erucic and 24 to 33 % nervonic acid. Oil recovery from the seed was strait forward and was performed by prepressing and subsequent solvent extraction. Lunaria meal showed promising characteristics in regard to its application in animal nutrition and in many aspects is competitive to rapeseed and soja meal. In addition to ruminants application of Lunaria meal in rations of single stomached livestock seems possible. Lunaria oil showed good lubricant properties.
It is concluded that the potential of Lunaria annua, especially of the annual types, is promising in regard to industrial application, by-product utilisation and agronomic performance. However, additional effort is required to bring this crop to a commercial success.
Calendula officinalis
Calendula officinalis is well adapted to temperate climates as found in North Western Europe. Cultivation in Northern Spain is only possible under irrigation conditions. Calendula requires little fertilisers and is relatively insensitive to diseases and pests. Evaluation of germplasms and line selection has identified lines with potential production capacity of 3000 kg seed per ha with 21% oil in the seed containing 60% of calendic acid (C18:3), the target fatty acid in the oil. Seed harvest can be performed with a conventional combine but is circumvented by the presence of hooked seeds. Genetic research showed that non shattering genotypes can be made having low contents of hooked seeds combined with high oil content (>20%). An effective oil extraction method was developed on lab and pilot scale but further study is needed to develop a cost effective process. Industrial research revealed great potential of Calendula in paint applications. Calendula oil showed comparable drying characteristics to Tung oil and can replace Tung oil in commercial produced resins. The high reactivity of Calendula oil makes it unsuitable as lubricant.
It is concluded that Calendula officinalis is close to commercialisation.
EXPLOITATION RESULTS
Part of the work undertaken by partners of the VOSFA project was co-funded by national governments. Hence large part of the information generated has been published in numerous scientific and public journals, newspapers, and broadcasted on the Dutch television and on a BBC radio programme. One patent has been obtained and plant breeders right of several newly developed lines has been and will be applied.
Information gathered in the VOSFA project has been the base of new research subsidies and research contracts.
ADDRESSES AND CO-ORDINATES OF THE CONSORTIUM
Overall co-ordinators
Dr. W. Lange (until 1-10-1995) & Dr
H.J.P. Marvin (from 1-10-1995)
Centre for Plant Breedingand Reproduction
Research (CPRO-DLO)
P.O. Box 16
6700 AA Wageningen
The
Netherlands.
Participant and Project Leaders
Cluster 1. Primary production (co-ordinated by ADAS)
Cluster 2. Oil recovery and by-products (co-ordinated by TNO)
Cluster 3. Industrial applications (co-ordinated by TNO)
Contacts
Coordinator
EC Scientific Officer
Participant
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
- biomatnet@biomatnet.org
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