What is canola farming in Australia?
Canola is a yellow-flowering oilseed crop grown widely across southern Australia. Its seeds are crushed to produce canola oil and meal, and Australia is one of the world's major exporters of canola seed.
Canola was developed in Canada in the 1970s from rapeseed plants. Breeders produced varieties low in erucic acid and glucosinolates, making the oil suitable for cooking and the meal suitable for animal feed. The name comes from Canada and oil.
In Australia, canola is grown in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, often in rotation with wheat and barley. The crop helps break disease cycles in cereals and improves yields of the following crop.
Fields of yellow
In late winter and spring, canola crops flower, turning large areas of farmland bright yellow. The sight has become a favorite subject for photographers and visitors driving through rural areas.
Western Australia is the largest canola-producing state. Much of the crop is exported to Europe, where it is used to make biodiesel, as well as to Asia for food oil.
Farmers can grow herbicide-tolerant varieties, including some genetically modified varieties approved for use in several states. Canola oil is popular for cooking because it is low in saturated fat.
Did You Know?
Canola meal, left after oil is extracted, is a protein-rich feed for livestock and poultry.