New processing technology could turn canola byproducts into high-value protein and omega-7 oils

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have reported progress on a new processing approach that could dramatically increase the value extracted from canola seeds, opening pathways to plant-based protein for human food and ultra-high-value omega-7 oils previously treated as waste.

Canada’s canola industry already generated an estimated US$43.7 billion in annual economic activity, but most commercial value still came from a single output: oil. The remaining material, known as canola meal, was typically sold as low-grade animal feed or discarded. The new research suggested that separating the seed’s hull from its kernel before crushing could fundamentally change that equation.

The work was led by Runrong Yin, a graduate researcher in the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Engineering, alongside Edgar Martinez Soberanes, who conducted the research during his PhD and now worked in the university’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

Using advanced X-ray imaging at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron facility, the team studied how targeted heating, cooling, and moisture treatments altered the internal structure of the canola seed. The imaging revealed that the process created a microscopic gap between the hull and kernel, allowing the two components to be separated without damaging the protein-rich interior.

In conventional processing, the entire seed was crushed together. Oil was extracted, while the remaining mixture of hull and protein was downgraded to feed. By contrast, separating the components beforehand made it possible to direct each fraction to higher-value uses.

According to Soberanes, up to 30% of the canola kernel consisted of protein that could be redirected toward human food applications rather than animal feed. He noted that canola protein had already been used experimentally in high-protein crackers and could be incorporated into a wide range of food products as demand for alternative proteins continued to rise.

Beyond protein, the hull itself emerged as a major source of untapped value. Long considered waste, the hull contained omega-7 fatty acids, a rare lipid used in nutrition and cosmetics. Yin explained that while conventional canola oil sold for only a few dollars per kilogram, omega-7-rich oil extracted from the hull could command prices as high as US$7,000 per kilogram.

The challenge historically had been separation. The hull adhered tightly to the kernel, making clean removal difficult at industrial scale. The researchers’ treatment method, combined with synchrotron imaging, showed that the newly formed internal gap allowed the hull to break away cleanly, similar to cracking a peanut shell while leaving the nut intact.

Importantly, the team reported that the process relied on equipment already common in the canola industry, improving its prospects for commercialization. While scale-up challenges remained, the researchers indicated that the approach was designed with real-world processing constraints in mind.

Yin described the goal as full utilization of the seed rather than optimization of a single output. By enabling the separate recovery of oil, protein, and omega-7-rich lipids, the technology aimed to support higher margins while aligning with broader trends in protein diversification and value-added agriculture.

Soberanes said the researchers believed the approach could significantly increase the economic contribution of canola to Saskatchewan and Canada, particularly as demand grew for plant-based proteins and specialty lipids.

Further development and industrial validation were still required, but the findings suggested that one of Canada’s most established crops could play a larger role in future food, feed, and ingredient markets than previously assumed.