what is canola

Canola is a crop plant that produces seeds from which canola oil and meal are made. The plants grow about three to five feet tall and have small yellow flowers. Canola seeds are small, about the size of poppy seeds, and contain roughly 45% oil. The name "canola" is a contraction of "Canadian" and "ola" (oil), originating from Canada where scientists in the 1960s bred a variety of rapeseed plants to reduce two undesirable components: erucic acid in the oil and glucosinolates in the meal. This breeding created canola, a variety prized for its heart-healthy oil with the least saturated fat among common cooking oils. Canola belongs to the Brassica plant family, which also includes mustard, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. It is grown not only in the United States and Canada but also in Australia, Europe, and China (where it is called "double low rapeseed" due to its low erucic acid and glucosinolate levels). Canola oil is widely used for cooking and baking and is the third most widely used vegetable oil in the world after soybean and palm oil. Besides food use, canola oil is also used in biodiesel production and industrial applications. The byproduct after oil extraction, canola meal, is used as animal feed and fertilizer. In summary, canola is an edible oilseed crop developed from rapeseed with improvements to make the oil healthy and suitable for consumption, and it contributes significantly to food and industrial oil markets worldwide. This information covers the nature, origin, and uses of canola comprehensively. Let me know if you want details on any specific aspect or uses of canola. Sources: