A new website - www.oilcrop.com - has been developed by the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products at the University of York to demonstrate the commercial benefits of non-food applications of oil crops. The website is part of a project carried out by CNAP researchers Professor Dianna Bowles and Professor Ian Graham, together with Dr Jacqueline Garrood and Mr Clifford Spencer from Springdale Crop Synergies.

The project was funded by Defra as a consultancy project administered through the National Non-Food Crop Centre (www.nnfcc.co.uk).

www.oilcrop.com lists oil crops that can be grown in the UK, with agronomy and oil characteristics described in detail. There are also sections on crop genetics, oil biochemistry and the technologies that support agriculture. The website provides a resource for all sectors associated with the supply chain of oils, from fundamental researchers to end-users.

Professor Dianna Bowles said: "It is important to the UK economy to integrate the knowledge of farmers, manufacturers and researchers when developing sustainable uses for non-food crops."

Applications of plant oils include their use in paints, lubricants, biodiesel and solvents used in industrial processes.

A unique feature of the site is the 'on-farm' oilseed processing information. Localised pressing of seed oil is now feasible either through single farm processing or a grower processing consortium. Theoretical case studies are presented on the website to illustrate the extra value that can be made by farm processing of oilseeds compared to selling oilseeds on to a third party.

"There is a wealth of opportunity out there for farmers if they can take their crops that one step further," said Jacqueline Garrood, Springdale's Technical Co-ordinator.

Professor Ian Graham added: "Oilcrop.com offers farmers an opportunity to add value to their crops before the farm-gate. Producers could be in a position to develop entrepreneurial activities directly connected to the purchasers of their products."

Ian Law, Technical Translator with the NNFCC said: "It is exactly this type of opportunity that British farming needs to develop in light of CAP reforms."

Results from this project will be on display at the Great Yorkshire Show from 13 to 15 July in the Universities' Pavilion.

BACKGROUND

One of CNAP's central objectives is to increase public engagement with bioscience through a programme of high quality outreach activities. Full details of all outreach activities can be found on www.understandingbiology.org

Springdale Crop Synergies was formed to react to an obvious need to link together research, industry and agriculture. The company was created to provide specialist crop production services on a national and international basis to a wide range of customers in the food, industrial, pharmaceutical and energy market sectors. www.springdale-group.com

CNAP and Springdale will organise events for farmers and end-users to discuss opportunities for oilcrops in the UK. Please see the website for further details.

National Non-Food Crops Centre is the UK information hub for transfer of non food crop technologies. It is based on York Science Park. The Centre will disseminate scientific and technical information on these issues as widely as possible in order to increase knowledge and understanding, to initiate and facilitate technology uptake and to meet the government's and society's wider objectives for sustainable development. www.nnfcc.co.uk