The sunshine crop
plant which offers health benefits when added in foods.
The UK's National Farmers' Union (NFU) is launching a `charm offensive' on oilseed rape, a plant with a bright yellow flower, often seen growing in the UK, with an information campaign highlighting its benefits as a healthy food and green industrial crop, reports the Financial Times.
Following consistent enquiries about the plant, the NFU has produced an information leaflet to educate the general public about the crop.
Rapeseed oil is one of the healthiest edible oils in a diet, containing the lowest level of saturated fatty acids. It also has many other industrial and cosmetic uses, such as in suntan oil.
Britain produces 1.7m tons each year, with the crops valued at £250m to farmers, according to the report. World requirements are said to be growing all the time.
The leaflet, entitled The Sunshine Crop, will be given out at a national roadshow where the public will also be given the opportunity to handle the crop and see for themselves its many uses.
NFU oilseeds, proteins and alternative crops chairman, Rad Thomas, said: "Oilseed rape is beginning to bloom in fields all over the country at this time of year but often people are unaware of exactly what it is."
"Not only is it Europe's healthiest vegetable oil but it is also an extremely versatile environmentally-friendly crop which has dozens of extra uses from sun tan oil and make-up to fabrics and inks. It is visible in flower for a only a few weeks and this leaflet is aimed at helping people to enjoy it more," he added.
