Quality of western Canadian canola 2020

Fatty acid composition

The average level of erucic acid (C22:1) in the 2020 canola crop was 0.01%. Over the last several years, Canadian canola samples graded Canola, No.1 Canada ranged from below limit of detection to 0.01% (Tables 1 and 3, Figure 14a). Similar to the total glucosinolate content, these low values are a direct result of breeding efforts by the Canadian canola industry.

The α-linolenic (C18:3) content of Canola, No.1 Canada sample averaged 8.9%, which is more than one percentage lower than the 2019 average (10.0%) and similar to what was observed in 2018 (8.7%) when similar hot growing conditions were observed during August (Figure 14b). This average is about 0.6% lower than the 5-year average of 9.5% (Table 1, Figure 14b). This year, samples from Saskatchewan had the lowest average compared to samples from Manitoba and Alberta-Peace River: 8.0%, 8.4% and 9.9%, respectively (Table 3). Since 2010, this year’s average was the lowest after 2018 (8.7%; Figure 14b).

For Canola, No.1 Canada samples, the average oleic acid (C18:1) content of the 2020 crop was 63.9%, which was higher than what was observed in 2019 (62.4%) and the calculated 5-year average (63.0%; Table 1, Figure 14c). The lowest average oleic acid content was observed for samples from Alberta-Peace River (62.7%), whereas the highest average was obtained from Saskatchewan (65.1%; Table 3).

The total content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) was 65.8% (64.8% in 2019) in Manitoba, 66.7% (64.5% in 2019) in Saskatchewan and 64.3% (63.1% in 2019) in Alberta-Peace River, resulting in an average of 65.4% for western Canada (64.0% in 2019; Table 3).

Linoleic acid (C18:2; Figure 14d) content follows a similar pattern as α-linolenic (Figure 14b) in regards to environmental conditions. Hot and dry growing conditions can also reduce the linoleic acid content of canola seeds. This year’s average is one of the lowest averages in the last 10 years (Figure 14d).

Total average content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were 26.8% (27.9% in 2019) in Manitoba, 26.0% (28.4% in 2019) in Saskatchewan and 28.5% (29.8% in 2019) in Alberta-Peace River, resulting in an overall average of 27.3% for western Canada (28.8% in 2019; Table 1, Table 3). For canola, PUFA content are directly related to the α-linolenic (C18:3) and linoleic acid (C18:2) content. The hot temperatures in August (Figure 5), after flowering, were directly responsible for the low total unsaturation of oil content in the 2020 canola seeds, and thus, lead to a PUFA content decrease compared to last year. The north and the south parts of the Prairies were affected differently by the hot temperatures, leading the observed geographical range in PUFA content.

The fatty acid composition (oleic acid, linoleic acid and α-linolenic) of the 2020 crop presented a very different composition when compared to the 2019 fatty acid composition (+1.5%, -0.4% and 1.1% for oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid). As a result, the iodine value, which is a representation of the total unsaturation of oil, was very different in 2020 when compare to 2019. It was the lowest iodine values observed over the last 10 years (Figure 14e). The 2020 iodine value averaged 111.2 units, 2.4 points lower than the 2019 iodine value average (113.7 units) and 1.6 units lower than the 5-year average (112.8 units; Tables 1). For Canola, No. 1 Canada, the iodine value averages were 110.3 (112.1 units in 2019), 109.2 (113.4 units in 2019) and 113.3 units (115.1 units in 2019) for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta-Peace River, respectively (Table 3). This year, the iodine value of individual Canola, No.1 Canada samples ranged from 103.6 to 121.5 units (105.2 to 121.5 units in 2019). Samples graded Canola, No. 2 Canada showed higher iodine value averages with higher linoleic and α-linolenic acid contents, and lower oleic acid contents than the Canola, No. 1 Canada samples (Table 3).

The average saturated fatty acid content was 6.8% in 2020, which was slightly higher than the 2019 average (6.6%) and the 5-year average (6.6%; Tables 1 and 3). Since 2009, the saturated fatty acid content averages varied from 6.6% to 6.9% (Figure 14f). In 2020, the saturated fatty acid content averages for Manitoba (6.9%) and Saskatchewan (6.9%) were higher than the average observed for samples from Alberta-Peace River (6.7%).

Total saturates fatty acid content (controlled by breeding efforts) has been very stable, lower than 7.0%, ranging from 6.6 to 6.9%, since 2009 (Figure 14f). However, other fatty acids (except erucic acid) are greatly affected by genetic variety and environmental factors. This year, individual samples of Canola, No.1 Canada, had oleic acid, linoleic acid and α-linolenic that ranged from 56.1% to 68.8%, 13.8% to 24.2% and 5.1% to 14.0%, respectively. Samples from southern Alberta-Peace River (crop districts 1, 2, and 3) had a very different fatty acid composition than samples from the north of Alberta-Peace River (crop districts 4, 5, 6 and 7). Samples from the northern areas, especially from Alberta-Peace River, had higher unsaturation than samples from the southern areas. The hot growing conditions this year compared to last year helped to decrease the average unsaturation.

The fatty acid composition of the 2020 harvest reflected well with the fatty acid composition from the August to December 2020 exports compared to last year (Table 4). Average oleic acid, α-linolenic and iodine value of CC canola exports were different at the beginning of the shipping season (August to November) compared to the 2020 December exports and last year’s shipping season (August 2019 to July 2020). The level of saturated fatty acids of canola exports up to December 2020 (6.8%) were higher than the last shipping season (6.6%), greatly reflecting the 2020 harvest results. It is expected that levels of erucic acid will remain very low for the new shipping season (below 0.1%) since 2020 harvest erucic acid contents were very low.