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A cousin of canola could provide a new source of oils for nature-friendly products and a big boost to Canada's economy.
Brassica carinata, a close relative of canola, is being studied for its environmental benefits.
Researchers in Saskatoon are working with a type of Ethiopian mustard plant that promises to become a major source of environmentally friendly oils that can be used for everything from biofuels to plastics, and even pharmaceuticals. Even better, it will grow on dry soil that's not suitable for other crops.
Brassica carinata (B. carinata), also known as Ethiopian mustard, grows in the highland areas of Ethiopia where the seeds are used by locals for their edible oils. The oils in B. carinata could make it an attractive source for biofuels and other industrial products. Its meal can also be used as an ingredient in certain plastics.
The plant produces oils rich in erucic acid, a fatty acid that can be used as an ingredient in oil-based paints, industrial nylons, biodiesel and even as a coating on plastic wrap to reduce clinging.
Did you know?
Nervonic acid occurs naturally in the human brain. It is an important component of brain fats and helps to form myelin — the insulating sheath surrounding nerve fibres.
But with a little genetic nudging, the plant could also produce significant quantities of nervonic acid (a compound related to erucic acid), which has potential not only for industrial applications, but also for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, according to Dr. David Taylor, an NRC researcher in Saskatoon. Dr. Taylor is part of an NRC team working with Agrisoma Biosciences and others to produce a version of B. carinata that will produce both oils in high concentrations. Researchers at NRC are also testing the oil product for its benefits for human health.
"Nervonic acid shows promise in helping treat symptoms in conditions such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis," says Dr. Taylor. Work on B. carinata is aimed at introducing genes from other non-food crops that will convert some of the plant's erucic acid to nervonic. Prototype plants have already been created and the team is rapidly working to produce a crop-quality plant for farmers.
Nervonic acid could help to treat symptoms of conditions such as Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.
Growing the crop would be an environmentally positive move, since many of the plant's applications would serve as substitutes for industrial oils derived from the petroleum industry.
B. carinatawould contribute to sustainable agriculture in the Prairies too. "It is suited to the drier southern regions of Western Canada," Dr. Taylor says. It can thrive on land that is unproductive and "it would not compete with land that is needed for food crops, such as canola."
"I can see these industrial oilseeds adding $25 billion to Canada's economy in the West over the next decade."
Dr. Steven Fabijanski, Agrisoma Biosciences
Growing the crop in marginal, non-productive areas gives a boost to the local environment. "It enriches the soil because it increases the soil carbon content and sequesters greenhouse gases," says Dr. Steven Fabijanski, President and CEO of Agrisoma Biosciences.
As well, B. carinata promises to be a profitable venture, says Dr. Fabijanski. "I can see these industrial oilseeds adding $25 billion to Canada's economy in the West over the next decade." It will also provide an additional source of income for farmers living in areas where the quality of the land isn't good enough for other crops. 
