Scientists looking for new sources of veg oils

Scientists have embarked on a project to identify unknown or lesser known oil seeds as new sources of oil for edible and non-edible applications.
The project 'Development of Sustainable Processes for Edible Oils with Health Benefits from Traditional and Newer Resources' aims to develop sustainable processes for edible oils and look for health benefits from traditional and new resources, RBN Prasad, Chief Scientist and Head, Centre for Lipid Research at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, said here today.
The project will be completed by the end of the 12th Five year plan in March 2017, he said.
According to Prasad, the Indian vegetable oil industry (both edible and industrial-use oils) has a turnover of Rs 1.3 lakh crore. As much as 8.5 million tons of edible oils are produced in the country and about 10 to 15 percent of this is used for industrial purposes.

However, there is a huge shortfall, and last year, India imported 10.2 million metric tones of vegetable oils.
Under the project, lesser-known oils seeds found across forests in the country are being screened.

"The project envisages screening of tree borne oilseeds of forest origin for edible and non edible applications and screening of microbial strains for the production of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)-enriched oil," the scientist said.
Also, it will work on development of greener technologies for the extraction of oils and nutraceuticals.
A consultancy firm has been appointed to map the whole country to identify the untapped oil-seed plant species.