When it comes to Cannabis sativa, the difference between a federally-scheduled drug and a valuable commodity can be as minor as a few tenths of a percentage. Although hemp seed oil and cannabidiol (CBD) oil are both derived from the same Cannabis plant and are often both referred to as “hemp oil,” they’re not the…
The Controversy Surrounding Mustard Seed Oil
The small but mighty mustard seed is perhaps best known for its namesake yellow condiment, but it’s not as widely recognized as a valuable source of oil. While mustard seed oil has a long history of use in food, medicinal, topical, and industrial applications, some of its bioactive compounds limit its popularity (and even its…
The Keys to Extracting Safflower Seed Oil
An often overlooked oilseed, safflower may not be as popular or prolific as its cousin crop, the sunflower. However, it still packs many of the same benefits into the specialty oil extracted from its seeds. In fact, safflower seed oil contains many of the same nutritional and functional properties as sunflower oil but at a…
Understanding Grape Seed Oil Extraction
Although grapes are one of the most popular fruits in the world, most grapes are grown not to supply produce stands but to produce wine. More than 60% of the global grape production is crushed every year to make vino—generating large amounts of leftover byproducts like grape seeds, skins, pulp, and other residues. Of these…
Comparing the Poultry Nutrition Needs of Broilers vs. Layers
Nutrition is critical to efficient poultry farming. Not only does feeding account for about 75% of poultry production costs, but it can directly impact bird performance and production. Whether raising chickens for commercial egg or meat production, each flock requires certain poultry nutrition considerations depending on its end use. The same diet does not suit…
The Benefits of Pre-Pressing in Solvent Extraction
Soybeans are the world’s most dominant source of vegetable oil, with more than 370 million metric tons being processed this year—more than the other six highest-volume oilseeds combined. Since solvent extraction is the most commonly used method of extracting vegetable oil, it makes sense that most of the world’s solvent extraction equipment is designed specifically…
Understanding Hexane Extraction of Vegetable Oils
The solvent extraction of vegetable oils like soybean oil dominates the oilseed industry as the most popular extraction method used around the world. Most large-scale solvent plants use hexane extraction to chemically separate oilseeds into liquid fat and solid protein—popular ingredients in the food industry and many other market sectors. Amid growing concern for natural,…
Meeting the global demand for shea oil and shea butter extraction
Although it only grows in a limited swath of sub-Saharan African parklands, the wild shea tree supplies the entire world with enough shea nuts to meet the growing demand for both shea oil and shea butter. African civilizations have been processing shea nuts by hand for centuries, using tedious traditional methods of shea butter extraction…
Optimizing flaxseed oil production
One of the earliest domesticated crops in human history, flax has found a wide range of applications through the millennia. As a valuable source of food, animal feed, fiber, flooring, and many other uses, it’s no wonder why the Latin name of this ancient herb translates as “most useful.” Every part of the plant is…