Why do we grow canola?
Canola is harvested mainly for its oil, which is obtained from its seeds. If you eat margarine or fish and chips you have probably eaten some canola oil. Canola oil is also used in many food products and other substances such as soap, creams and lotions.
Canola oil has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, level of saturated fat of all the vegetable oils. Saturated fats contribute to health problems such as heart disease. In addition, canola oil has higher levels of the important and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids compared to some other vegetable oils.
The amount of each of these fats produced by an animal or a plant is generally controlled by its genes. It might be possible in the future for us to change these genes in canola plants so that they produce less saturated fats and more unsaturated fats, making canola even healthier to eat.