Rapeseed

Rapeseed is a cultivated oilseed plant in the mustard family, most commonly identified as *Brassica napus* var.

Rapeseed is a cultivated oilseed plant in the mustard family, most commonly identified as *Brassica napus* var. *napus*. It is grown mainly for its oil-rich seeds, which are used to produce rapeseed oil, animal feed, and industrial products; low-erucic-acid cultivars are commonly marketed as canola.

Description

Rapeseed is an herbaceous brassica grown for its seeds, which are pressed to obtain oil. Sources describe it as a winter or spring annual crop, and some also note annual or biennial forms.

Uses

Its seeds are used to make cooking oil, margarine, bird feed, animal fodder, and biodiesel. Industrial uses also include lubricants, hydraulic fluids, plastics, and lamp fuel in historical or specialized contexts.

Canola and breeding

Canola is the name used for rapeseed cultivars bred to have very low erucic acid content. This distinction separates edible oil cultivars from traditional industrial rapeseed types.

Agricultural importance

Rapeseed is a major global oilseed crop and is among the leading sources of vegetable oil and protein meal worldwide. It is cultivated widely in temperate regions, including Canada, India, China, and Europe.