October, 2020
Page 15
History of Canola Canola was bred from rapeseed cultivars of B. napus and B. rapa at the University of Manitoba, Canada, by Keith Downey and Baldur R. Stefansson in the early 1970s. The name was originally a trademark name of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, and was a condensation of “Can” from Canada and “OLA“ meaning “Oil, low acid”. Now it is a generic term for the edible varieties of rapeseed oil in North America and Australasia. The change in name serves to distinguish it from natural rapeseed oil, which has much higher erucic acid content.
Canola belongs to the Brassica genus of mustard family (Brassicaceae). The brassica genus includes over 30 species. Six Brassica species (B. carinata,,B. Juncea, B. Oleracia, B. napus, B. Nigra and B. rapa) have been the subject of much scientific interest for their agricultural importance. The B. rapa (Polish) and B. napus (Argentine) species form the basis of canola industry in Canada. Following is a chronicle account of the developments of the canola crop and industry in Canada.
