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Thermostable rapeseed oil
Context
Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is the world’s third-largest source of vegetable oil, with the residual protein-rich meal used as feed for livestock. Rapeseed oil is considered a healthy oil because it is low in saturated fatty acids. But it is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which results in poor thermal stability. The production of low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer (produced using renewable electricity rather than natural gas) enables the development of rapeseed to produce sustainable, non-toxic and biodegradable substitutes for minerals.
The research
Our research focuses on the key limitation of rapeseed oil for industrial applications: its thermal instability. The main focus has been reducing the content of polyunsaturated fatty acid in a directed way, based on our knowledge of lipid biosynthesis pathways.
The impact from this area is being delivered through a start-up company, Nuspec Oil Ltd.
Contact us
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products
cnap@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 328776
Department of Biology,
University of York,
Wentworth Way,
York
YO10 5DD
Related links
Featured researcher
![](/media/research/2015/images/people/20_Ian_Bancroft.jpg)
Professor Ian Bancroft
Professor Bancroft is an expert in plant genomics who formerly worked at the John Innes Centre in Norwich.
Featured researcher
![](/media/biology/centrefornovelagriculturalproductscnap/staffimages/Natalie-120.jpg)
Natalia Stawniak
Dr Stawniak is interested in exploring the thermal stability of rapeseed oil. She was awarded an Enterprise Fellow from the University of York and is CEO, Co-founder of Nuspec Oil Ltd.
Contact us
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products
cnap@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 328776
Department of Biology,
University of York,
Wentworth Way,
York
YO10 5DD