Closing yield gaps in oil palm production has become increasingly important as opportunities for land expansion diminish under sustainability and land-use policies. Whereas most previous studies have concentrated on established production methods, this study examines contemporary technologies adopted by estate companies and evaluates their applicability to smallholders. Evidence from publicly listed firms in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore shows that more productive estates have implemented integrated plantation management systems that combine improved planting materials, “future-ready” plantation infrastructure, soil and water conservation, precision agriculture, and partial mechanization. These technology clusters increasingly embody features associated with a novel cluster of adaptation-to-climate-change. Expert reviews, however, emphasize that strengthening fundamental capacities remains the priority for smallholders. Replanting with improved varieties and adopting adaptive nutrient management—anchored in soil and water conservation—are viewed as practically essential. Yet, constrained by technological and structural factors, smallholders will have to follow a different pathway from estates in closing yield gaps. In this context, unlocking sustainable and resilient yield potential in the smallholder sector will depend on a balanced techno-socio-economic approach of innovations that extend beyond hardware and equipment to include institutional support, service delivery models, access to knowledge and financial systems, and diversification.
This study aims to identify the morphological and anatomical factors that influence the dehulling capacity of sunflower achenes, a critical issue for the oilseed industry. Four cultivars grown at two sites over two cultivation years were examined. The study is based on observations from transverse sections of achenes, enabling measurement of the area of the achenes, embryos, and pericarp, as well as the length of contact zones between the pericarp and the embryo. Calculations were used to evaluate pericarp thickness, filling rate, and contact rate. Dehulling capacity does not simply depend on achene size or oil content but rather results from a complex balance between pericarp rigidity (as determined by its thickness) and the presence of gaps or adhesion zones at the pericarp/embryo interface. Genetic factors influence pericarp thickness and the propensity for hull/kernel contact. Environmental conditions impact the supply of water at both the flowering and seed-filling stages. The flowering period is crucial for pericarp development, and water stress during this period results in thinner pericarps and smaller achenes that are more difficult to dehull. The filling rate increases when water needs during seed filling are met, whereas the contact zones depend on the interaction between water supplies during both stages. In summary, the findings validate the role of the hull/kernel interface in dehulling and provide fresh avenues for selecting varieties with superior technological quality in sunflower achenes.
Licuri (Syagrus coronata) is a palm species endemic to Brazil’s Caatinga biome whose biotechnological potential remains poorly explored. While the kernel is traditionally used for oil extraction, the mesocarp is discarded. In this study, oils from licuri kernel and mesocarp were extracted and compared. Kernel oil was rich in medium-chain saturated fatty acids, notably lauric acid (≈50 % w/w), whereas mesocarp oil contained long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acids; 55.4 % w/w). The mesocarp oil also exhibited high levels of free fatty acids, resulting from endogenous lipase-mediated hydrolysis of triacylglycerols and galactolipids. Blanching the fruit before extraction inactivated lipase activity and improved mesocarp oil recovery, yielding up to 13 % w/w compared with 40 % w/w for the kernel. Significant lipase activity was retained in the delipidated mesocarp cake after cold hexane extraction, with activities up to 375 ± 12 and 475 ± 25 U/g on olive oil and tributyrin. Partial purification yielded a lipase active over a broad pH range and on various lipid substrates, including licuri kernel oil, egg phosphatidylcholine, and vinyl propionate. These results highlight Licuri fruit as a dual source of oil and lipase, supporting its potential use in an integrated biorefinery approach.
The main oilseed crops in Ukraine are sunflower, soybean, and rapeseed. The area under oilseeds exceeds 8 million hectares, or 39% of the total sown area. Sunflower crops—5 million hectares, soybeans—2 million hectares, rapeseed—1 million hectares. Ukraine ranks first in the world in terms of exports of sunflower, sunflower oil and meal, and rapeseed. The processing industry ranks first in Ukraine in terms of contributions to the state budget—16.7% of the total collection in 2024. In the 2023/24 season, record volumes of oilseeds were processed—17.4 million tons, 6.6 million tons of oil were produced, and 6.2 million tons were exported. For comparison, in the pre-war period of 2019/20 MY, these figures reached 6.9 million tons of production and 6.7 million tons of exports. Sunflower oil has been the export leader in Ukraine for the past 20 yr. The average annual production of sunflower oil is 5.4 million tons, with further exports of up to 5 million tons. Export revenue reaches $5 billion per year. The production and processing of soybeans is growing at the fastest pace. The processing industry of major oilseeds demonstrates the rapid adaptability of the processing industry during the period of transformations and sharp changes in operating conditions.
South Africa is a water-scarce country predominantly practicing dryland agriculture, relying on rainfall onset to determine planting date. Sunflower is commonly considered a substitute crop, planted when primary crops face delayed plantings. The interaction between crop development and environmental variability is critical in Southern Africa because projections indicate warming of up to twice the rate of the global average. We investigated sunflower planting dates and production across two austral summer seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022) and two provinces of South Africa. A widely grown cultivar was sown monthly through the summer (from November to March) in a split-plot design. Plant height and leaf number were recorded weekly. Plants were harvested at physiological maturity for morphological and yield assessments. The hotter, drier first season (2020/2021 austral summer) led to the plantings reaching physiological maturity approximately 25 days earlier than in the wetter, cooler season (2021/2022 austral summer). In the hot/dry season, seed yield and quality were lower but more stable across planting dates. In the wetter/cooler second season, there were sharp declines in yield (78.8 g/plant, equivalent to 3.2 tons/ha ) and greater variation in oleic acid (up to 59.9%) across planting dates. These results highlight sunflowers’ stability under hot, dry conditions, supporting their use as a substitute crop.
The global expansion of olive cultivation has led to the widespread adoption of highly mechanized production systems, with the Arbequina cultivar emerging as a dominant choice due to its high productivity and adaptability. Given that the physicochemical quality of its oil is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, understanding the impact of abiotic stress on olive oil quality during key fruit developmental stages is essential for adapting orchard management to climate variability. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify and characterize the critical periods of fruit development that determine the physicochemical quality, fatty acid composition, and phenolic profile of ‘Arbequina’ olive oil under conditions of reduced solar radiation. To this end, whole olive trees were subjected, to intense shading (80%) during 30-day periods, using chambers. The results revealed that oil composition, particularly oleic acid content, and extinction coefficients are significantly influenced by the timing of stress exposure. Besides, two key accumulation phases of the principal fatty acid, cis-oleic acid were identified: an early phase (30–60 days after full bloom, DAFB) marked by increased content, and a later phase (120 DAFB) showing a pronounced decline. These changes were inversely correlated with palmitic acid levels. Linoleic acid levels decreased significantly during the 30–60 DAFB, while linolenic acid levels declined between full bloom and 30 DAFB, followed by an increase after 90 DAFB. Regarding phenolic compounds, oleacein and oleocanthal levels decreased significantly under stress, whereas hydroxytyrosol and luteolin remained stable, indicating selective metabolic responses. Given the global expansion of olive cultivation in semi-arid regions, these findings provide a framework to mitigate climate-induced quality losses in a wide variety of emerging production areas. By identifying stress-sensitive developmental stages, this study offers actionable insights to preserve EVOO quality and optimize harvest and canopy management.
This study examined the composition of oil extracted from empty fruit bunches (EFB) and its effects on the refining, fractionation, and occurrence of process-developed contaminants in palm oil. The oil, referred to as empty fruit bunch oil (EFBO), was extracted from EFB liquor, which consisted of 85 % water, 10 % sludge, and 5 % oil. The EFBO was then blended with crude palm oil (CPO) at varying concentrations (0.1 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 %, 2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 10 %) and subjected to physical refining and dry fractionation. Quality analyses revealed that increasing EFBO concentrations led to higher free fatty acid (FFA) levels above 0.4 % and more intense colour above 2.4R in the refined oils. The EFBO also contributed to the formation of process-developed contaminants, particularly 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE), from 1.14 mg kg−1 in control oil to 2.72 mg kg−1 in refined oil with 10 % EFBO added, while the formation of glycidyl esters (GE) was less influenced by the addition of EFBO. During dry fractionation, both 3-MCPDE and GE were found to be more concentrated in the liquid olein fraction than in the solid stearin fraction, governed by inherent physicochemical properties rather than the blended oil composition. The study concluded that blending EFBO with CPO could degrade the quality and safety of CPO, mainly due to the increased formation of undesirable contaminants such as 3-MCPDE.
Background: This study aimed to optimize the synthesis conditions for solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with Calophyllum inophyllum L. (tamanu) oil, a natural extract known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. Methods: SLNs were prepared using a hot homogenization-ultrasonication-cold homogenization method, and various formulation parameters were systematically evaluated, including the type and concentration of solid lipids, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of surfactants, sonication power, and homogenization speeds. Results: Among the tested lipids, Naterol (R) SE produced stable SLNs and was selected for further optimization. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Central Composite Design (CCD) was applied to model the effects of four key factors-HLB value, sonication power, hot homogenization speed, and cold homogenization speed-on particle size and polydispersity index (PDI). The optimized formulation achieved a mean particle size of 148.7 +/- 1.39 nm and a PDI of 0.30, with spherical morphology confirmed by SEM and good physical stability under different storage conditions. Objectives: These findings demonstrate that the optimized tamanu oil-solid lipid nanoparticles (TO-SLNs) possess favorable physicochemical characteristics, offering strong potential as a topical nanocarrier system for skin repair and regeneration applications. Contexte: Cette & eacute;tude visait & agrave; optimiser les conditions de synth & egrave;se de nanoparticules lipidiques solides (NLS) charg & eacute;es en huile de Calophyllum inophyllum L. (tamanu), un extrait naturel reconnu pour ses propri & eacute;t & eacute;s anti-inflammatoires, antimicrobiennes et cicatrisantes. M & eacute;thodes : Les NLS ont & eacute;t & eacute; pr & eacute;par & eacute;es par une m & eacute;thode combinant homog & eacute;n & eacute;isation & agrave; chaud, ultrasonication et homog & eacute;n & eacute;isation & agrave; froid. Diff & eacute;rents param & egrave;tres de formulation ont & eacute;t & eacute; & eacute;valu & eacute;s de mani & egrave;re syst & eacute;matique, notamment le type et la concentration en lipides solides, l'& eacute;quilibre hydrophile-lipophile (HLB) des tensioactifs, la puissance de sonication ainsi que les vitesses d'homog & eacute;n & eacute;isation. R & eacute;sultats : Parmi les lipides test & eacute;s, le Naterol (R) SE a permis d'obtenir des NLS stables et a & eacute;t & eacute; retenu pour l'optimisation. Une m & eacute;thodologie RSM (Response Surface Methodology) bas & eacute;e sur un plan composite central (Central Composite Design, CCD) a & eacute;t & eacute; appliqu & eacute;e afin de mod & eacute;liser l'effet de quatre facteurs cl & eacute;s - la valeur du HLB, la puissance de sonication, la vitesse d'homog & eacute;n & eacute;isation & agrave; chaud et la vitesse d'homog & eacute;n & eacute;isation & agrave; froid - sur la taille des particules et l'indice de polydispersit & eacute; (PDI). La formulation optimis & eacute;e a permis d'obtenir une taille moyenne de particules de 148,7 +/- 1,39 nm et un PDI de 0,30. La morphologie sph & eacute;rique a & eacute;t & eacute; confirm & eacute;e par microscopie & eacute;lectronique & agrave; balayage (MEB), et une bonne stabilit & eacute; physique a & eacute;t & eacute; observ & eacute;e dans diff & eacute;rentes conditions de stockage. Objectifs : Ces r & eacute;sultats montrent que les nanoparticules lipidiques solides & agrave; base d'huile de tamanu (TO-NLS) optimis & eacute;es pr & eacute;sentent des caract & eacute;ristiques physico-chimiques favorables, offrant un fort potentiel en tant que syst & egrave;me nanovecteur topique pour des applications de r & eacute;paration et de r & eacute;g & eacute;n & eacute;ration cutan & eacute;es.
The identification of morphometric characteristics in seeds is an important tool in the characterization and differentiation of seed lots, used in quality monitoring and control, as well as in the design and selection of equipment in the processing line. Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is an oilseed species considered promising for its high-quality oil, good thermal stability, and diverse industrial uses. The objective of this study was to characterize different lots of jojoba seeds using radiographic images and microscopy, identifying parameters that assist in seed classification and contribute to the development of rapid, accurate, and non-destructive methods for evaluating seed quality in this crop. Radiographic analyses allowed the observation of internal seed structures, which, when complemented with image analyses, revealed polymorphism in size, shape, and gray intensity, highlighting lot 5 with superior performance in structural integrity and physiological quality. These findings were consistent with groupings obtained by the UPGMA method, which also demonstrated clear separation between lots based on morphological characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy supplemented radiographic analysis, providing a morphological basis for the internal attributes visualized. Non-destructive seed analysis techniques, such as X-rays, can be used in the characterization and discrimination of seed lots based on morphological characteristics observed in radiographic images.
Semantic segmentation methods have become increasingly popular in the field of agronomy for their ability to accurately and efficiently analyse images of crops. These methods use machine learning algorithms to assign semantic labels to each pixel in an image and require extensive amount of labelled data. Currently, most of the available models focus on crop and weed identification and target a single growth stage. In this paper, we propose a robust semantic segmentation method for estimating the dynamics of multi-species cover in intercropping systems, using only 50 images for training the model. We applied transfer learning on the well-established convolutional neural network DeepLab to decrease the image annotation effort. Three models are trained using field images from a three-year field trial with canopy densities ranging from early development at 1.2% to well-developed canopy covers of 98.7%. Overall, we propose a two-class segmentation model to differentiate vegetation from soil, obtaining 96.8% mean accuracy. Two methods for three-class segmentation models to identify soil, oilseed rape and the other plants are proposed, reaching best mean accuracy of 96.2%. The proposed method is able to differentiate oilseed rape from service plant mixtures at all growing stages, allowing for accurate assessment of the dynamic competition for light between these species. Hence, semantic segmentation methods in agronomy have the potential to support study and management of crops, enabling more accurate and efficient data collection and analysis. Les m & eacute;thodes de segmentation s & eacute;mantique sont devenues de plus en plus populaires dans le domaine de l'agronomie, gr & acirc;ce & agrave; leur capacit & eacute; & agrave; analyser pr & eacute;cis & eacute;ment et efficacement les images des cultures. Ces m & eacute;thodes utilisent des algorithmes de machine learning pour classer chaque pixel de l'image, et n & eacute;cessitent un grand nombre de donn & eacute;es. Actuellement, la plupart des mod & egrave;les disponibles proposent l'identification d'une culture et des adventices et ne ciblent qu'un seul stade de d & eacute;veloppement. Dans cet article, nous proposons une m & eacute;thode de segmentation s & eacute;mantique robuste permettant d'estimer la dynamique de couverture d'associations complexes de cultures, en n'utilisant que 50 images pour entra & icirc;ner le mod & egrave;le. Nous avons utilis & eacute; une m & eacute;thode de transfer learning sur le mod & egrave;le de r & eacute;seaux de neurones DeepLab d & eacute;j & agrave; entra & icirc;n & eacute; pour r & eacute;duire l'effort d'annotation des images. Trois mod & egrave;les ont & eacute;t & eacute; entra & icirc;n & eacute;s & agrave; partir d'images obtenues dans un essai au champ reconduit trois ans, pendant la p & eacute;riode de d & eacute;veloppement de la culture allant d'une couverture du sol de 1,2 % jusqu'& agrave; 98,7 %. Nous proposons un mod & egrave;le de segmentation en deux classes, qui diff & eacute;rentie le sol de la v & eacute;g & eacute;tation, et obtient une pr & eacute;cision moyenne de 96,8 %. Deux m & eacute;thodes pour des mod & egrave;les de segmentation & agrave; 3 classes, identifiant le sol, le colza et les autres esp & egrave;ces v & eacute;g & eacute;tales sont propos & eacute;es, et ont une pr & eacute;cision moyenne de 96,2 %. Les m & eacute;thodes propos & eacute;es sont capables de diff & eacute;rentier le colza des m & eacute;langes de plantes de services & agrave; tous les stades du d & eacute;veloppement v & eacute;g & eacute;tatif, et permettent ainsi une & eacute;valuation pr & eacute;cise de la dynamique de comp & eacute;tition pour la lumi & egrave;re entre les esp & egrave;ces. Ainsi, les m & eacute;thodes de segmentation s & eacute;mantique peuvent contribuer & agrave; l'& eacute;tude des associations de cultures et & ecirc;tre utilis & eacute;es dans des outils d'aide & agrave; la d & eacute;cision, car elles simplifient et rendent plus pr & eacute;cise la collecte et l'analyse des donn & eacute;es.
Sustainable intensification of perennial oil palm production systems requires balancing energy efficiency, economic profitability, greenhouse gas emission, and labour requirements. This study evaluated three mechanization scenarios (manual, semi-mechanized with standard capacity equipment’s and semi-mechanized with high-capacity equipment’s) across five yield levels (15–35 t FFB ha−1 yr−1; FFB = Fresh Fruit Bunches), based on data from 26 plantations in the Colombian Orinoquia Natural Region. Methodologies included energy analysis, economic evaluation, life cycle assessment of Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG), and labour demand quantification. Results demonstrate that yield intensification constitutes the primary driver of systemic efficiency, with energy ratios improving from 2.10 to 2.42 and emissions decreasing from 84.8 to 66.3 kg CO2 t⁻1 FFB. Semi - mechanized systems contribute directly to intensification by enabling precise input applications and timely execution of agronomic practices, particularly in fertilization and harvesting. Semi-mechanized systes with high capacity equipment’s reduces labour demand by 26–46% compared to manual systems and facilitates scalable operations. It also emerges as the most profitable scenario, with economic viability achieved from 15 t FFB ha⁻1 yr⁻1.
The African oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacquin has a commercial life span between 20–30 years after which replanting is advised. Although a sound agronomic decision, planted seedlings are at risk of potential attack and damage by adult Oryctes. While it is known that adult population – in infested re‐planted palm plantation – increases with time, specific information on their population trend is limited. Hence the population of the adult Oryctes monoceros pest in 3 years of replanting (YOR) – 2018, 2020, and 2022 – in Ubima Oil Palm Plantation, Rivers State, Nigeria, was monitored, for at least twenty‐seven months, after the planting end month (PEM). Results showed progressive increase in adult population that peaked between 24 to 26 months, then began to decline. The small standard error of the mean (SEM) obtained, showed the sample mean as a precise estimate of the population mean. The one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a highly statistical significance across the study months. Similarly, the nested ANOVA showed that variation in O. monoceros population was statistically significant across all tested variables between the three YOR. The study showed that the developmental continuity of O. monoceros is dependent on the trunk and its speed of decay. Furthermore, a second replanting phase will reach peak population faster and will surfer more damage than a first replanting phase. This study provides plantation owners and managers with information on how long the challenge of O. monoceros will likely last, as well as how best to plan replanting activities across multiple years.
Vegetable oils and fats play a key role in a healthy diet. As for any foods, during the journey from the raw material until their processing, several contaminants can be encountered. The present article looks at the evolution of the EU regulatory framework for contaminants in vegetable oils and fats and their raw materials and the different types of contaminants from “known” to “emerging”. It identifies several trends, from the wording used, to regulatory exemptions and the implementation of the EU Maximum Levels (MLs) at national level. It also assesses the impact this is having for the vegetable oil and fat sector. With the growing number of topics to address simultaneously across the years, the challenges for this sector have considerably increased, considering “known” and “emerging” contaminants and other EU policy objectives. The supply chain management and the vegetable oil and fat processing can reduce some contaminants levels and will remain key factors in the mitigation route to further explore in the future.
Determining the appropriate sowing date can have a significant impact on increasing the yield potential of alternative crops such as camelina in semiarid agricultural ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the effects of sowing date and genotype on yield components, seed yield, oil yield, oil content and fatty acid profile of camelina. A split-plot experimental design using sowing dates (30–31 March, 5–8 April, 15–17 April, 25–28 April and 6–7 May) as main plot and genotypes as subplots was adopted during two growing seasons (2021–2022). The results of the present study showed that delaying sowing exposed the seed-filling period to high temperatures, which resulted in significant decreases in seed yield and oil content of camelina. Thus, the most positive results in terms of yield and yield components were obtained from the first and second sowing dates. In this respect, the highest seed yield (1982 kg ha−1), oil yield (797 kg ha−1) and seed oil content (40.2%) were obtained from the Arslanbey genotype. In addition, while the rates of linolenic acid (36.75%), palmitic acid (5.12%), stearic acid (2.55%), arachidic acid (1.55%) and eicosenoic acid (16.58%) in camelina seed showed high values at the first and second sowing times, these rates relatively decreased as the sowing time was delayed. On the contrary, the highest values in terms of linoleic acid and oleic acid were observed in the fourth sowing date. As a result, although the ecological conditions of the region are suitable for camelina cultivation, significant decreases in camelina seed yield and oil content were observed with the delay of sowing. In this context, it was determined that the suitable sowing time for spring camelina cultivation in the Muş province located in the east of Türkiye is the last week of March and the first week of April. However, further research is needed to optimize other agricultural inputs for camelina production in the region.
This study investigates the geographical variation in oil quality and bioactivity of Asphodelus microcarpus seed oils collected from five Moroccan regions. Oils were extracted using Soxhlet with petroleum ether, analyzed by GC-MS after FAME preparation, and evaluated for physicochemical properties (ISO/NF standards) and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS). Yields ranged from 18.93% to 21.03%, with stable physicochemical parameters. GC-MS revealed 18 fatty acids (94.82–98.59% of total lipids), showing regional variation. Casablanca and Mohammedia oils had exceptional linoleic acid content (>74%), a first report for Asphodelus species. Meknes and Rabat oils were richer in nervonic and tricosanoic acids. Antioxidant assays showed the strongest activity in Casablanca oil (DPPH IC₅₀ = 291.5 μg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀ = 308.93 μg/mL). PCA revealed clear coastal vs. inland chemotypes. This study represents the first Moroccan report on the fatty acid composition and antioxidant potential of A. microcarpus seed oil. It reveals a distinctive linoleic acid-rich chemotype and highlights the species’ potential as a novel bioactive source for food, health, and industrial applications.
This study investigated the determinants of sunflower hulling ability by evaluating 30 commercial hybrids across eight environments over two years Variance analysis revealed that environmental factors explained 50% of the variability in hull extraction rate, while genetic factors accounted for 33%. Water availability during key developmental stages was critical: sufficient water during flowering promoted pericarp development and improved hulling, whereas non limiting water supply during grain filling reduced hulling ability, likely by increasing hull-kernel adhesion. The negative correlation between oil content and hullability (R = –0.44) was confirmed, reflecting a trade-off between oil accumulation and pericarp development. Thousand-seed weight and bulk density showed only weak associations with hullability. The model incorporating water requirement coverage during flowering and grain filling explained over 90% of the environmental effect on hullability. These findings highlight the strong environmental plasticity of hulling ability and the importance of avoiding water stress during the flowering period. While genetic improvement remains feasible, the phenotypic expression of hullability is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly water availability during flowering and seed filling. This work provides a framework for breeding and agronomic strategies aimed at optimizing both seed quality and processing efficiency in sunflowers.
Efficient nutrient management plays a key role in improving safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) yield and oil quality. This study examined the effects of conventional and integrated fertilization strategies on safflower growth, yield components, oil yield, and fatty acid composition over two growing seasons (2021–2023) in Tabriz, Iran. A randomized complete block design included six treatments: an unfertilized control, 100% urea (UR), foliar NPK, and the biofertilizer PhosphoBARVAR-2 (PSB) combined with 100% UR, 50% UR, or NPK. All fertilized treatments performed significantly better than the control in most parameters across both years. The chlorophyll index increased by up to 31.12% under PSB+100% UR in Year 2 and by 38.43% under NPK in Year 1, showing improved photosynthetic activity. Seed yield rose markedly, reaching 296.18 g/m2 with NPK in Year 1 and 290.78 g/m2 with PSB+NPK in Year 2. Oil yield also increased sharply by 66.2% with NPK in Year 1 and 58.87% with PSB+NPK in Year 2 compared to the control. The highest oil content (37.7%) was recorded with PSB+50% UR. Integrated nutrient management (INM) treatments, i.e., PSB+100% UR, PSB+50% UR, and PSB+NPK, proved highly effective. They often matched or exceeded the performance of full conventional fertilization, particularly PSB+50% UR. These treatments also enhanced oil composition. PSB+100% UR and PSB+50% UR produced the highest linoleic acid (C18:2) levels (up to 73.55%), while PSB+NPK maximized the amount of oleic acid (C18:1) to 16.05% and total unsaturated fatty acids to 83.57%. Cluster analysis clearly separated INM treatments, highlighting their distinct impact. Overall, integrating PSB with urea or NPK fertilizers, even at reduced rates, offers a promising and sustainable approach to improve both safflower yield and oil quality.
This study investigates the potential of Butiá odorata seeds, a native palm species from southern South America, as a novel and sustainable source of vegetable oil. Two types of oil, denominated Butiá almond oil (BAO) and Butiá seed oil (BSO), were mechanically extracted and characterized in terms of lipid content, fatty acid profile, triglyceride composition, and thermal behavior. Both oils exhibited high content of short and medium chain saturated fatty acids, particularly lauric and capric acids, as well a notable presence of oleic acid. Triglyceride analysis revealed a predominance of tri-saturated and di-saturated mono-unsaturated species, with low ECN values. Thermal analysis from DSC confirmed low melting points indicating typical liquid oil behavior. The properties studied suggest that Butiá oils may be suitable for food applications where rapid melting and enhanced sensory attributes are desired, and potentially for use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Given the limited previous research, this work provides valuable data on Butiá odorata and supports its valorization within the scope of the circular economy. Further studies are recommended to optimize processing and fully explore industrial applications of these underutilized native resources.
Oenocarpus bataua is a palm tree native to the American rainforest, whose fruits are a source of bioactive compounds that produce high-quality oil. The novel supercritical fluid (SCF) extraction method using CO2 to obtain oil has been underexplored. The aim of this research was to characterize the morphology of ripe and semi-ripe fruits of O. bataua, the proximate composition analysis of the mesocarp (M) and exocarp (E), determine the oil yield extracted from ripe and semi-ripe fruits using the SCF method, and evaluate its quality based on the chemical composition. The fatty acid profile (FAME) was determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and the volatile profile was identified employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that the proximate analysis of M+E in ripe fruits has a higher fat (21.66 ± 2.70%) and protein (6.7% ± 0.39%) content than semi-ripe fruits. M+E oil yield for ripe and semi-ripe fruits using the SCF method was 17.99% and 12.47%, respectively. Oleic acid predominated in the FAME of ripe and semi-ripe fruits (81.2% and 87.6%, respectively), followed by palmitic acid (11.9% and 8.2%, respectively). The most abundant volatile compounds of the oil were ethanol, followed by phenylethyl alcohol and 3-methylpropanoic acid. Phenylethyl alcohol is possibly responsible for the sweet aroma typical of this oil. Extraction kinetics were studied at 34 MPa/50 °C. The semi-empirical model of Sovová et al. (2006) described 97.24% of the experimental behavior of the extraction kinetics. The composition analysis of unsaturated fatty acids suggests that the oil from O. bataua ripe fruits is an important source of beneficial bioactive compounds with potential use in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.
Canola press-cake, a high-protein meal for livestock feed, can be nutritionally enhanced through seed dehulling, which produces a high-protein meal and a hull-rich fraction. Various preconditioning methods have been proposed to improve dehulling efficiency, but their effects on seed structure remain largely unexplored. This study examines the impact of thermal treatments on canola seed and evaluates whether rapid drying techniques can aid hull-embryo separation, improving dehulling performance. Thermal treatment effects were assessed via non-destructive micro-computed tomographic (micro-CT) imaging and a completely randomized dehulling experiment with three replicates. Treatments included rapid seed moistening followed by fluidized bed or microwave drying. Results showed that fluidized bed drying produced a higher yield of seed hulls than other methods. Micro-CT imaging revealed that fluidized bed drying caused embryo shrinkage, facilitating hull detachment, while microwave and oven drying did not induce this effect, explaining their lower dehulling efficiency. We conclude that fast fluidized bed drying effectively preconditions canola seed for mechanical dehulling, improving fraction separation.
