Perspectives of oilseed rape as a bioenergy crop

Abstract

Awareness of the impact of fossil fuels on climate change is increasing the demand for biofuels as energy sources. This review provides a comprehensive outlook of oilseed rape as a biodiesel feedstock. A brief summary of current status of oilseed rape production is included, as some of the issues will impact oilseed rape production in the next 10–15 years. Future outlook is analyzed under conventional and technology breakthrough scenarios. In conventional scenarios, expansion of oilseed rape production is challenged by high water footprints, nitrous oxide (N₂O) gas emissions from nitrogen fertilizer application and full carbon credit accounts. In the technology breakthrough scenario, the challenges can come from the advancement in technology of other feedstocks for biodiesel production, such as algae-based biodiesel technology. For both scenarios, the ultimate constraints for oilseed rape expansion are the availability of land and water.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr LM Hall, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Canada, for providing information and Mr CL Vera and Dr KS Gill for editorial revisions to the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.