Investigation into the Prospects of Five Novel Oilseed Crops within Europe

Abstract

The economic potential in Europe of five novel oilseed crops for applications within the chemical industry, particularly in paints and lubricants, was investigated within a multidisciplinary integrated research and development project. The entire production chain was subjected to a study. The following five oilseed crops were evaluated: Lunaria annua, Calendula officinalis, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Lesquerella grandiflora and Euphorbia lagascae. It was concluded that Calendula was nearest to commercialization, and that Calendula oil showed excellent behaviour in several paint formulations. Lunaria and Euphorbia oils showed good lubricating performance, but feasible commercial production of these oils does not seem realistic in the near future.