Quality of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans 2021
Fatty acid composition
Table 4 shows the fatty acid composition of the combined Soybeans, No. 1 Canada and Soybeans, No. 2 Canada composites from the various provinces in 2021. Linoleic acid (C18:2), the main fatty acid found in soybean oil, averaged 53.8%, whereas the 2020 average was 54.9%. Oleic acid (C18:1), the second most important fatty acid in soybeans, averaged 21.9% in 2021, which is much higher than the 2020 value of 20.3%. The other important unsaturated fatty acid, α-linolenic acid (C18:3), averaged 8.2% (8.8% in 2020). Total saturates had an average level of 15.4% in soybeans from all of Canada
| Province | Number of samples |
Palmitic C16:0 | Stearic C18:0 | Oleic C18:1 | Linoleic C18:2 | α-Linolenic C18:3 | SFAFootnote 1 | Iodine Value Footnote 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | 121 | 10.3 | 4.0 | 20.5 | 55.4 | 8.5 | 15.2 | 135.8 |
| Saskatchewan | 8 | 10.3 | 4.2 | 18.9 | 55.9 | 9.1 | 15.3 | 137.1 |
| Western Canada | 129 | 10.3 | 4.0 | 20.4 | 55.5 | 8.5 | 15.2 | 135.9 |
| Ontario | 170 | 10.8 | 4.0 | 23.3 | 52.4 | 7.9 | 15.6 | 131.7 |
| Quebec | 23 | 10.8 | 3.8 | 21.7 | 54.0 | 7.9 | 15.5 | 133.2 |
| Eastern Canada | 193 | 10.8 | 40 | 23.1 | 52.6 | 7.9 | 15.6 | 131.9 |
| Maritimes | 7 | 11.4 | 3.5 | 18.2 | 56.1 | 9.5 | 15.4 | 137.9 |
| Canada | 329 | 10.6 | 3.9 | 21.9 | 53.8 | 8.2 | 15.4 | 133.6 |
Iodine value estimates the level of fatty acid unsaturation in oil. The higher the number of double bonds in the oil, the higher the iodine value and level of unsaturation. For 2021, both the average α-linolenic acid and the average linoleic acid values were lower than in 2020 and accordingly, the iodine values in 2021 (133.6 units) are lower than in 2020 (135.8 units). Figure 5 presents the iodine value trend since 2006 for eastern Canada, western Canada and all of Canada. The yearly variations reflect the environmental differences, including geographic factors and climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation.
Figure 5 Oil iodine values (units) of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans from 2006 to 2021
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Details
Figure 5 Oil iodine values (units) of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans from 2006 to 2021 Region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Western Canada 132.9 137.6 138.1 137.8 139.2 132.4 131.2 134.0 140.0 134.5 136.4 134.7 132.4 138.8 136.4 135.9 Eastern Canada 138.6 132.8 135.0 137.0 133.6 136.1 132.4 134.2 136.5 133.3 132.0 138.0 133.8 138.3 135.4 132.1 Canada 137.7 133.6 135.7 137.2 135.4 134.6 132.1 134.1 137.5 133.7 133.2 137.0 133.5 138.5 135.8 133.6
There is no requirement to control the fatty acid composition of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans. Varieties can, therefore, show a large variation in fatty acid composition. Weather also plays a role in year-to-year fatty composition variability. In hot and dry conditions, seeds tend to produce an oil with more saturation. For example, seeds will produce less polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as α-linolenic and linoleic acids, and more total saturates and oleic acids. The opposite is observed if seeds are grown in cool conditions.