Plant crops: Camelina, flaxseed, lupins, sunflowers

• Agricultural systems with increased biodiversity can mitigate climate change risks.
• Incorporating biodiversity is essential for addressing major challenges.

Plant Crops for Food

• Camelina cultivated for its oil.
• Flaxseed is used for seeds, oil, and textiles.
• Lupins serve as a source of plant-based protein.
• Sunflowers are grown for their seeds and oil.
• Spelt is used for flour.
  • Has more protein and less gluten than modern wheat.
• Buckwheat can be used for gluten-free flour and is considered a pseudocereal.
• Quinoa is also a pseudocereal providing gluten-free flour.

Camelina

• Camelina sativa L. is also known as wild flax, false flax, or gold of pleasure.
• It belongs to the Brassicaceae family.
• Features resistance to common brassica pests and pathogens.
• It is a spring annual oilseed.
• Camelina can be produced in both winter and spring without needing herbicides in winter production.
• It was commonly used before 1940 and has experienced renewed interest.
• Could potentially replace oil seed rape (OSR).
• Camelina oil is edible, rich in α-linoleic acid (ω-3) and has 45% ALA.
  • It contains 10% in OSR and ~0% in sunflower.
• It is high in Vitamin E (γ-tocopherol).
  • Has a reduced potential for oxidation and extends shelf life.
• Camelina can be used to supplement fish oils.
  • It is unable to meet the global demand.
• Camelina can be used in PUFA eggs.
  • Has commercial scale in the EU.
  • Camelina is more palatable than flax.
  • Improves egg and shell quality.
• Camelina can be used as animal feed.
  • Contains a 10-15% ration.
  • Used in cattle ration to increase w-3 content of beef.
• Traditional and cosmetic industrial uses of Camelina.
  • This includes treating wounds and burns, and molecules for fragrances.

Flaxseed

• Flaxseed is botanically known as Linum Usitatissimum L..

  • Flaxseed is also known as Linseed

• It has a long history in Ireland.

  • Stalks make textile fibers (flax) for linen production.
  • Its seed is known as linseed.
  • Linseed oil can provide Omega 3.

• The blue-flowered herbaceous plant is also used ornamentally.

• Oilseed flax:

  • Shorter plant.
  • More branching.
  • Higher seed yields.

• Fibre flax:

  • Taller plant.
  • Less branching.
  • Lower seed yields.
  • Denser plant stands.

• Oxidation causes short shelf life and rancidity.

• Its industrial uses include:

  • Drying agent in paints and printer inks.

• Used in cosmetics.

  • Anti-ageing serums and haircare products.

• Used as supplement to reduce methane production.

• Teagasc:

  • Beef cattle benefit from linseed oil resulting in 19% lower CH₄

• University of Reading:

  • Dairy cows benefit from from linseed based supplements to decrease CH4 yield (1.8 l/kg milk solids) and CH4 intensity (2.7 l/kg milk solids)

• Flaxseed is better than OSR

Lupins

• There are 400 species globally, with four of agronomic importance.
  • Lupinus albus (White lupin)
  • Lupinus angustifolius (Blue/Narrow leafed lupin)
  • Lupinus luteus (Yellow lupin)
  • Lupinus mutabilis (Pearl lupin)
• Lupins are native to Europe and members of Fabaceae family.
• Lupins have high nitrogen fixation (up to 300 kg N year-1).
• These have higher protein content than peas or beans.
• Similar to soy bean and are also known as 'Soya of the North'.
• 'Sweet' varieties of Lupins have low alkaloid levels available.
• Protein content:
  • L. angustifolius: Up to 38%
  • L. albus: Up to 45%
  • L. luteus: Up to 48%
  • L. mutabilis: Usually > 42 %
• Soil pH requirements:
  • L. angustifolius: Moderately acidic - Neutral
  • L. albus: Mildly acidic - mildly alkaline
  • L. luteus: Strongly - mildly acidic
  • L. mutabilis: Mildly acidic - Neutral
• Frost Tolerance:
  • L. angustifolius: Some tolerance
  • L. albus: Susceptible
  • L. luteus: Moderately tolerant
  • L. mutabilis: Very susceptible
• Uses for human consumption include:
  • Soya replacement in tofu and soya lecithin.
  • Baking.
• Plant-based beverages.
• Popular snack in Spain and listed as an allergen.

Sunflowers

• Helianthus annuus L. is an annual crop.
• Used primarily for birdseed.
• Other uses include:
  • Oil production
  • Biofuels, paper, cloth
  • Human consumption
• These are pollinator beneficial for bee exposed plants (USA).
  • Yield increase 48.8 %
  • Oil increase 6.4%
• One hive in 0.5 - 0.75 Ha-1 can benefit sunflowers.
• Cut flower market and optimum temps = 18 - 25 °C.
• Can plant 34,500 - 60,000 plants Ha-¹
  • This depends on end use (oil or seed).

Spelt

• Triticum aestivum L. ssp. spelta refers to spelt.
• Spelt is related to bread wheat.
  • Has a higher protein content (15 - 19%) and a unique gluten profile making it easier to digest.
• Contains 30 - 60% higher concentrations of:
  • Iron (Fe)
  • Zinc (Zn)
  • Copper (Cu)
  • Magnesium (Mg)
  • Phosphorus (P)
• Used by consumers, bakers, and breeders.
• Can be used for grain, flour, bread, beer, Vodka, Dutch gin

Buckwheat

• Fagopyrum esculentum (Moench) refers to buckwheat.
  • Common or sweet buckwheat
• Fagopyrum tataricum refers to bitter or Tatary buckwheat.
• 16th century has a Scottish term BOC for boc = beech and whoet = wheat.
• Seed resembles beech seed and is gluten-free.
• Buckwheat is a Pseudo-cereal.
  • It is a non-grass that is used like a cereal.
• Polygonaceae family is made up of Rhubarb, Sorrel, Docks, and Knotweed.
• Main consumer is Japan where it is used for Buckwheat or 'Soba' noodles.
• Soba noodles contain 30-40% buckwheat which improves baking performance of gluten-free bread.
• High protein 12 - 18%
• Dense fibrous rooting system promotes earthworm activity.
• Allelopathic effect provides weed suppression and a clean seedbed for following crops.
• Abundance of flowers provides pollination, honey, and health/nutraceutical benefits.

Quinoa

• Chenopodium quinoa Willd refers to Quinoa.
• Gluten free, annual pseudocereal.
  • AKA Fat hen weed
• Weed of sugar beet, spinach, amaranth crop fields
• Ancient crop of South & Central America, with 80% global production in Bolivia and Peru.
• Used for human consumption for last 4,000 years.
• Gows from sea level to c.3,800 m high.
• High protein content (10 - 18%)
• Saponin coating causes bitter taste and is toxic.
  • Can eaisly be removed via rinsing with water or mechanical polishing
• Breed 'sweet' varieties through pharmaceutical and anti-inflammatory properties.
• 'Irish' quinoa:
  • Chenopodium album L. also known as wild spinach or fat-hen.
  • It is a wild food plant in Medieval Ireland.
  • Leaves sold until 18thC in Dublin markets as a spinach-like vegetable.
  • Seeds fed to hens to fatten them and can be eaten by humans treated like quinoa Chenopodium quinoa Willd.