Raw materials for industry

”Customised” varieties open up new prospects
What does rape have to do with detergents? Plenty! Because the erucic acid in rape is an important industrial raw material for the manufacturing of detergents. The use of crops as ”renewable raw materials” has taken on new significance. The best-known example is the production of bio-diesel fuel from rapeseed. SAATEN-UNION breeders are working intensively on using biotechnology to develop rape varieties with customised fatty acids for food and non-food use.

Improving plant utilisation
In the ”NAPUS 2000” project promoted by the German Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology, SAATEN-UNION together with other partners is carrying out interdisciplinary research into rape to further improved plant utilisation in human food. Through its strategic alliance with the Rapool-Ring marketing association, the company is the most important rape breeder in Europe, with internationally recognised expertise in this field.

Innovative vision
Today’s niche products can be theguarantee of tomorrow’s success. A sign of the innovative strength of theSAATEN-UNION breeders is their work on previously neglected species like flax, spurge and other industrial plants.
With their work, the breeders help open up new markets for these crops.

In dialogue with processors
In the downstream markets, malters and millers make tangible demands on the quality of malting barley and bread making cereals, and oil extraction mills have demands on the composition and yield of oilseeds. SAATEN-UNION maintains ongoing dialogue with processors. For example, SAATEN-UNION is talking to processors in the rye forum on how to optimise the use of rye in animal feed, human food and non-foods.