Dow AgroSciences says it has come up with a new specialty canola oil with a longer shelf life.
Dow claims Natreon, a product of its DMS100 canola variety, is more stable than its predecessors. Customers look for stability because it reduces odd-flavored oils and improves longevity.
The oil contains high oleic and low linolenic levels, both fatty acids, and is also low in saturated fats, giving consumers a natural alternative to hydrogenated oils, said Pat Corbett, product manager for Dow. Restaurants can use the product for salad dressings, as well as the deep fryer and would be able to use the oil longer in deep fryers before having to change it.
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Cargill and CanAmera Foods have been producing a low linolenic oil for a couple of years.
Dow contracted 20,000 acres of DMS100 in this inaugural year. It’s a small percentage of Canada’s 13.4 million acre canola crop, but Corbett thinks this canola may eventually make up to one fifth of the nation’s canola production.
“All indications are that this could be a fairly significant proportion of the canola crop 10 years out.”
Patrick Catellier of Dufrost, Man., seeded 160 acres of DMS100 this year. He was disappointed with the yield, which came in at 35 bushels per acre. Competing canola varieties fetched him around 40 bu. per acre.
He said it’s debatable whether he will seed DMS100 again next year. If he does, he will likely seed about half the acreage. Other farmers he talked to had DMS100 yields ranging from 25 to 40 bu. per acre, but in each case it was never their top-yielding canola crop.
Catellier found the lower yield negated the premium price he is getting. Another drawback is that because DMS100 has to be identity preserved, it must be kept separate from other canola. Truck beds, augers and bins all have to be meticulously cleaned.
“It wasn’t terribly bad, but it involves a lot more work. It won’t be for everybody.”
Corbett said Dow’s challenge is to make sure the variety performs well on the farm, so the premiums make it a worthwhile crop. So far, their research indicates it performs similar to check varieties, but the company will continue working on the breeding program to develop better varieties that produce high oleic, low linolenic oils.
One danger with these specialty oils is that they could segregate the industry, said Corbett. The industry should choose one or two fatty acid profiles and concentrate on producing those.
“We have to produce a certain amount to meet the end user’s needs and if you start to segment the crop too much, you really reduce your ability to meet the consumer’s needs.”
He said it’s also important to keep a unified message for canola.
“From a marketing point of view, the last thing you want to do is have your product meaning a number of different things,” he said.
“Its perception right now is it is a healthy product compared to other vegetable oils. I think you would want to do all you can to maintain that.”
