Planting
In Western Canada, farmers begin planting seeds in early May. As crops grow, they use nutrients from the soil that need to be replenished for the next crop. This can be done through many methods, but the most effective way is by adding fertilizer.
Once canola seeds are planted, farmers focus on managing pests and controlling weeds that can limit the yield and quality of the canola crop. This ensures that nutrients are available for the growing crops and not the weeds. Pesticides are substances used to manage pests by killing or repelling them. Pests can be insects, plants (weeds), rodents, or diseases.
There are 4 types of pesticides:
- Herbicides: control unwanted plants (weeds) that compete with crops and natural habitats for nutrients, space, water and sunlight.
- Fungicides: protect plants from fungi that can spread from pant to plant and destroy crops.
- Insecticides: control insects that eat crops or transmit disease.
- Rodenticides: kill rodents such as mice and rats that may carry disease.
Pollinating
Plants worldwide depend on pollinators – insects, birds, and even bats – that move pollen from the male part of the flower (anther) to the female part of the flower (stigma). The transfer of pollen leads to fertilization, resulting in seed and fruit production.
Bees are Canada’s most important pollinators. The fruits, vegetables and seeds we eat are the result of pollination. Other products of pollination include cooking oil from crops like canola and flax, alfalfa used to feed animals raised for meat, cotton for clothing production, a wide range of medicines – and so much more.
Harvesting
Canola seeds are harvested in the fall using a combine. Harvesting is very weather dependent because crops need to be very dry before they can be harvested. Once harvested, canola seeds are transported in semi trucks to large metal storage bins until they are marketed by the farmer.
Grading, Cleaning and Storage
Large sieves are used to remove the weed seeds, stems, pods and other materials from the canola seed after it is graded for quality according to standards set by the Canadian Grain Commission. The seed is then ready to be processed into canola oil and canola meal. About 90% of the canola grown in Canada is exported to countries around the world. Our top buyers are the US, China, Japan, the EU and Mexico.
Canola Crushing
Canola processing facilities are located close to where canola is grown. Canada has 14 crushing and refining facilities that can crush 10 million tonnes of canola annually. Canola seeds go through a series of heating and pressing mechanisms to draw out the oils at the right temperature and quality. The oil is then refined to improve the colour, flavour and shelf life. The solids remaining after the oil is removed are processed into protein-rich canola meal that is used as livestock feed.
Refining
- Canola oil: Canola oil is a heart-healthy oil that is low in saturated fat, and a source of omega-3 polyunsaturates. Canola oil’s neutral taste, light texture and high smoke point make it one of the most versatile oils in your kitchen. It is also a key ingredient for the food industry.
- Biofuels: Canola-based biofuel is a renewable, sustainable energy source that can be mixed with petroleum-based diesel fuels to lower GHG emissions in every-day vehicles as well as heavy duty equipment. Supplementing Canadian diesel with a minimum of 5% renewable biodiesel would be equivalent to removing 1 million cars from the road each year.
- Animal feed: Canola meal’s high protein content makes it an efficient source of protein for livestock, poultry, and fish. In fact, research shows that canola meal increases milk production by one litre per dairy cow per day, compared to diets containing meal from other protein sources.
Grocery Stores
After refining, canola oil is bottled and shipped to grocery stores, or sold in bulk to restaurants, and food processors across North America. Canola oil accounts for more than half of all vegetable oil consumed in Canada and is third on the list worldwide, behind palm oil and soybean oil. Canadian canola oil production and consumption contributes $29.9 billion dollars to the Canadian economy each year.
Source: Canola oil Canola Oil: Farm to Table, Ag In the Classroom, The Real Dirt on Farming