Oilseeds monitoring

The Grain Research Laboratory's Oilseeds Monitoring program assesses the end-use quality of Canadian oilseed crops through chemical and physical tests. These tests measure important quality parameters in the seed and final product. Crop types include canola, flaxseed, soybean, mustard, solin and sunflower.

Activities

• Analyzes the quality of canola, flaxseed, mustard and soybeans surveyed on the Prairies in the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) annual Harvest Sample program.
• Analyzes the quality of soybean and canola surveyed in eastern Canada in the annual Harvest Survey
• Monitors the quality of export shipments of Canadian oilseeds
• Provides quality data and information to marketers, processors, producers and customers of Canadian oilseeds
• Develops and refines Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR) calibrations for oilseeds quality factors
• Conducts contract analyses for stakeholders, including assessment of the quality of new varieties from the canola public co-op breeding trials of the Western Canada Canola/Rapeseed Recommending Committee
• Provides analytical services on oilseeds export shipments for the CGC's Industry Services Division
• Supports the development, registration, and marketing of new oilseed varieties through participation in Prairie Grain Development Committees.

Technology, methods and standards

• Uses internationally accepted methods, including those of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• Participates in international method profiency testing programs for oil, protein, and glucosinolates, free fatty acids, chlorophyll and fatty acid composition

Contact:

Ann Puvirajah, Chemist
Canadian Grain Commission
Telephone: 204-983-3354
Email: ann.puvirajah@grainscanada.gc.ca

Veronique Barthet, Program Manager, Oilseeds
Canadian Grain Commission
Telephone : 204-984-5174
Email: veronique.barthet@grainscanada.gc.ca