Camelina
Camelina Overview
Camelina is a new oilseed crop grown in Saskatchewan. Camelina is currently used for food, livestock feed, and bird seed.
Camelina is a new oilseed crop grown in Saskatchewan.
Canola, flax, mustard, camelina, and sunflowers are all oilseed crops that grow in Saskatchewan.
Industry Overview
Camelina hectares (acres) in Saskatchewan have remained around 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) across the province.
Currently, camelina is exclusively grown under contracts with no open market. This means that camelina farmers are growing the crop for one specific camelina production company (the Smart Earth Camelina Corporation).
The camelina industry in Saskatchewan is about to grow.
The Smart Earth Camelina Corporation in Saskatchewan is a company that develops camelina varieties, sells seeds, and contracts the production of camelina. The number of hectares of camelina grown in Saskatchewan is going to grow because the Smart Earth Camelina Corporation is planning to contract out about 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) per year in the coming years.
Saskatchewan camelina farmers produce camelina crops and sell it to one production company.
History of Camelina
Camelina was first grown in Europe. The oil from the seed has been used as an industrial oil for a long time. The straw has been used for its fibre, and the seed has been used for bird seed.
Photo Credit: CAMELINA MARKETPLACE
Camelina is grown for many uses including oil, fibre, and pet food.
Growing Camelina
Camelina can grow well with little water and can adapt to hot or cool temperatures. These factors make camelina a good crop to be grown in the southwest region of Saskatchewan. It can be grown in a wide variety of soil types.
This graph shows the major soil zones across the Prairies.
The pods of a camelina plant hold 8-10 yellow or brown-yellow seeds. The seeds are very small, even smaller than the canola seed. The crop can be sprayed for weeds, insects, and diseases throughout the summer, if needed.
PHOTO CREDIT: CAMELINA MARKETPLACE
Camelina can adapt well to dry soil, and hot or cool temperatures.
If swathing, the crop should be swathed when about 75% of the crop has turned yellow, and then the crop is combined. Camelina is a good crop to be straight cut combined because the wind will not make the crop drop any seeds.
Camelina Nutrition
The camelina seed is about 40% oil and 30% protein. The seed is filled with healthy fatty acids that our bodies need.
PHOTO CREDIT: HODMEDOD
The camelina seed is filled with oil and protein that is healthy for our bodies.
Camelina Products
Cooking Oil
Bird Seed
Livestock Feed
Camelina is made into cooking oil and is an ingredient in many products.