Traditionally, rapeseed is used for birdseed or industrial purposes.
Industrial varieties of rapeseed contain about 55 percent erucic acid and are used to make lubricants and diesel fuel substitutes and to manufacturer plastics.These varieties have high levels of toxic glycosinolates along with high erucic-acid levels, which renders the processed meal unsuitable for human or livestock consumption.
New varieties of rapeseed, developed in Canada and Europe, are low in erucic acid and glycosinolates. These varieties are the so-called “double low” types and sometimes are marketed as Canola. The extracted oil is used as an edible vegetable oil. Domestic markets are expected to increase because previousrestrictions are being relaxed.