Canadian canola

Biological classification of canola

Family: Brassicaceae
Species: Brassica napus and Brassica rapa
Type: Oilseed

Growing areas in Canada

Growing areas: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan

End uses for Canadian canola

Canola has a variety of end uses. The oil from canola is used for cooking and is found in salad dressing and margarine. Canola’s industrial uses include oil for fuel and ink for printing. In agriculture, canola meal is used for high-protein livestock feed and forage. Canola is used as fertilizer.

The Canadian Grain Commission provides resources about Canadian canola that are related to the Canadian Grain Commission’s functions as defined under the Canada Grain Act. This includes information about Canadian canola standards and grades and the results of scientific analysis of Canadian canola.

Canadian canola and Canada Grain Regulations

Canola is one of the grains defined in the Canada Grain Regulations – Section 5. This means that the Canadian Grain Commission establishes and maintains quality standards for canola. Also, this means that canola is one of the crops protected by security. If a licensed grain company refuses or fails to pay for a delivery of canola, the producer can make a claim against security.

Canadian canola standards and grades

The Canadian Grain Commission defines Canadian grain standards and assesses the grade of grains against these standards. Standards Committees review these grading standards and recommend changes when necessary. The committees also select the standard samples of Canadian grain used each year.

Canadian grades are based on end-use quality. More information about grading canola is found in Chapter 10 of the Grain Grading Guide.

Scientific analysis of Canadian canola crops

The Canadian Grain Commission’s Grain Research Laboratory conducts scientific analysis of harvest and crop export quality and generates reports that offer information about each year’s crop. Crop quality data is taken from samples collected during our annual Harvest sample program. Export quality data is taken from samples collected from export shipments.