NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.The following notes have been extracted, with the authors' permission from a series of Agnotes, most of which were developed by Ian Knox, of the Oz Rural Web site (http://www.ozrural.com), for the database of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, which can also be accessed through the NRE Web site (http://www.nre.vic.gov.au).
Product
Crambe (Crambe abyssinica) is a broadacre oilseed crop, the seed of which produces an inedible oil which is used as an automotive and industrial lubricant and a component in the manufacture of synthetic rubber. It contains 50-60% erucic acid which is a long chain fatty acid used in the manufacture of plastic film nylons, adhesives and hard waxes and could be used as a substitute for the traditional rapeseed sources of erucic acid.
Residue crambe meal contains 45-58% protein (with the pod removed) and amino acid content is well balanced but the meal requires processing. In the USA, it is approved for 5% of the daily intake for ruminant animals but is not recommended for non-ruminant animals.
Specialty oil crops are grown under strict contractual arrangements so as not to contaminate canola seed.
For further information, contact:
Geoff Castleman
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Mallee Research Station
26 Richardson Street
Walpeup, Victoria 3507
Telephone: 03 5091 7246
Facsimile: 03 5091 7210
Email: castlemang@wally.agvic.gov.au
prycast@ruralnet.net.au
Farm Diversification Information Service
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Bendigo, Victoria 3550
Telephone: 1800 150 515 or 03 5430 4444
Facsimile: 03 5448 4982
References
Alternative Field Crops Manual
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
New Industrial Uses, New Markets
US Department of Agriculture
Alternative Research and Commercialisation Centre
Washington DC
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
New Crops Home Page] [New Crops Program] [Australian New Crops Newsletter] [New Crops Publications] [Order Form] [People] [Crop Profiles] [Other Resources]originally created by:
GK; latest update 17 October 2001 by: RF