AAK sustainability report 2018

36 Rapeseed – an important raw material for AAK Rapeseed as raw material Today, rapeseed oil is one of the most important vege- table oils used in food as well as biodiesel. Rapeseed has become the oil plant of Northern Europe. Outside Europe, the dominant producers are Canada, China and Australia. Rapeseed is an annual crop planted either in autumn (winter varieties) or in spring (summer varieties). The winter varieties have a longer vegetation period and give a better yield, but can only be grown in areas with mild winter climate. In Europe, winter varieties are dominating, whereas in Canada only summer rapeseed is grown. The harvest period in the Northern Hemisphere for the winter varieties starts in late July, and in late August or early September for the summer varieties. The importance of rapeseed for AAK Rapeseed is a very important raw material for AAK and is one of a few raw materials that AAK is crushing in its own facilities. AAK can offer oils from traditional seeds and a range of speciality varieties. Much of the rapeseed used in AAK’s products is grown in Sweden, where farms have increased their output in recent years. Through close cooperation with the farmers, AAK is able to maintain control of the entire value chain, from the production of raw material to finished products. The rapeseed meal that remains after oil extraction is used as animal feed. The oil content of rapeseed is 40–45 percent which corresponds to approximately 0.8 MT/ha and is extracted either by pressing alone or by pre-pressing and solvent extraction. With high oleic acid content, rapeseed oil has the lowest saturated fat content of all vegetable oils and is high in monounsaturated fatty acids. It also contains the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), as well as vitamin E (tocopherol) and vitamin K. Its nutritional and functional properties mean that rapeseed oil is ideal for use as a cooking oil or ingre- dient. Food applications range from mayonnaise and salad dressings to baby food. In margarines and bakery products, rapeseed oil ensures the right consistency and an improved nutritional profile. For high-temperature processes, high oleic acid-va- rieties of rapeseed are significantly more suitable. The advantages are a low saturated fat content together with good thermal and storage stability. Rapeseed sustainability From an agricultural sustainability perspective rapeseed is a very suitable crop to include in crop rotations with, for example, wheat and corn. When including rapeseed in crop rotation cycles it improves drainage and soil water retention, soil structure and resilience, as well as future nutrient availability. The plants furthermore 36