Quality of western Canadian canola 2021

Free fatty acid content

In 2021, the average free fatty acid (FFA) content of oil for Canola, No. 1 Canada was 0.24%. This is notably higher than the average in 2020 (0.15%) and the 5-year average of 0.16% (Table 1 and Figure 13). The average FFA content for Canola, No. 1 Canada samples (Table 2) from Manitoba (0.31% in 2021 versus 0.24% in 2020) was similar to the Alberta-Peace River average (0.29% in 2021 versus 0.14% in 2020) and much higher than the Saskatchewan average (0.18% in 2021 versus 0.13% in 2020). Canola, No. 1 Canada samples from Manitoba crop districts 9 and 10 had a higher average FFA content of 0.52% and this may pose a problem for local crushers.

Overall, samples graded Canola, No. 2 Canada presented a higher average FFA content than the Canola No. 1, Canada samples (0.45% versus 0.24%) as seen in Table 2.

In 2021, plant stress and seed sprouting, due to hot and dry growing conditions and rain at harvest, led to the production of higher than normal FFA content in Canola, No. 1 Canada when compared to the previous 10 years.

FFA levels of CC Canola, No.1 Canada averaged 0.29% for the December 2021 exports and 0.33% for the August to November 2021 exports (Table 4). FFA levels of individual CC Canola, No.1 Canada export samples ranged from 0.06% to 0.49%.

Over the years, it has been observed that FFA levels can increase during the shipping season as storage conditions can affect the activation of the seed’s hydrolytic enzymes, leading to FFA production. This year, FFA content could vary considerably from each load throughout the entire shipping season.

Figure 13  Free fatty acid content of oil (% as oleic acid) for Canola, No. 1 Canada