Carinata Development

Carinata is an oilseed in the Brassica family, closely related to mustard and canola. It is being developed as a dedicated industrial feedstock crop for biofuel production and its meal coproduct for livestock feed. Researchers at AAFC’s Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, in cooperation with Nuseed’s Saskatoon research team, recognize the crop’s global potential.

Canada’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 30 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030, and the increasing global demand for plant-based oil feedstocks is driving the development of low carbon intensity biofuels. Both the United States and Europe also have clean fuel policies supporting lower carbon fuels and the need for scalable renewable feedstocks. Carinata is recognized as a sustainable fuel feedstock crop that can reduce GHG emissions.

The carinata variety Nujet 400 was a direct result of the hybrid development work. It features a 20 to 30 per cent higher yield than traditional varieties.

“There is huge opportunity in the renewable fuel markets today, particularly in Europe, with its large number of hydrogenated vegetable oil treatment facilities,” says Rick Bennett, Senior Plant Breeder based at Nuseed research facilities in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “Carinata is a high-value biofuel feedstock crop as the oil composition works well in the biofuel conversion process.”

Carinata, when crushed to extract the non-food oil, yields a high protein, non-GMO meal for animal feed. It has a higher protein and lower fibre content than canola meal. In North America, carinata meal has been approved as a feed source for the beef industry in the U.S. and its non-GMO status paves the way for access to European markets.

In this project, research focused on germplasm development using inter-specific hybridization, meaning that carinata was
cross-pollinated with canola and condiment mustard to achieve desired traits. The goal was to develop varieties that will enhance the marketability of carinata by increasing erucic acid content and lowering glucosinolates. Erucic acid is valued by the oleochemical industry (chemical compounds derived from natural fats and oils) for its industrial applications and higher energy potential. Glucosinolates are antinutritional compounds found in Brassicas that limit a body’s ability to absorb nutrients and therefore limits carinata’s use in specific feeds to include only the meal after oil processing has adequately reduced levels.

Christina Eynck, a research scientist with AAFC and one of the researchers involved in the project, says the results have been extremely promising. Recent development of super high erucic acid carinata varieties boast an erucic acid content of about 58 per cent. Hybrid variety development is also a key part of the work being conducted between AAFC and Nuseed in Saskatoon through the Diverse Field Crops Cluster.

Nuseed has commercial contract production of a new hybrid carinata variety in South America and the southern United States underway this year. Nujet 400, a direct result of the hybrid development work, features a 20 to 30 per cent higher yield than traditional carinata varieties.

Currently there are no carinata acres in Canada due to existing regulations. Its high heat and drought tolerance may make it an option in areas that may not be as productive for other crops, like canola, due to climate or soil conditions.

Combating climate change is a multifaceted, multi-year, global endeavour, with temperatures rising on the Prairies and droughts like the 2021 event expected to increase in frequency. Saskatoon-based carinata research is helping grow the global renewable energy feedstock supply; adding a drought and heat tolerant oilseed crop makes carinata a worthwhile investment for global agriculture.

This DFCC research activity is led by Mustard 21 Canada Inc. with funding support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Partnership program, Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission, Canadian Mustard Association and Nuseed Canada Inc.