Chapter 7: Oilseed Rape

This chapter assesses the prospects for using the oilseed rape crop as a feedstock for biofuels. Oilseed rape is used principally as a feedstock for biodiesel because its oil comfortably meets the biodiesel standard (EN14214). Currently about 18% of global biodiesel production comes from oilseed rape and this uses about 11% of global oilseed rape production. If oilseed rape continues to provide a similar proportion of biodiesel, and the crop area and yield remain the same, then it is estimated between 30% and 47% of oilseed rape production will be required to meet the greater demand for biodiesel predicted by 2020. It is clear that, with limited scope to expand the cropped area, the yield of oilseed rape together with the proportion of oil in the seed must be increased if this upsurge in demand is to be met. Whilst global yields of oilseed rape have increased gradually since the 1960s, the yield increase in several European countries with the highest yields have slowed or stopped altogether. This does not necessarily mean that the yield potential has been reached for these countries since a recent analysis estimated that the yield potential of the UK (where yields have stagnated) is 6.5 t/ha compared with the current national average of 3 t/ha. It is concluded there must be a sustained effort by plant breeders, crop physiologists & pathologists, agronomists and farmers to increase crop yields towards its high potential. This must be achieved without increasing the requirement for crop inputs, especially nitrogen fertiliser, in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing oilseed rape.