DowDupont Develops High Protein Canola

DowDupont, a seed and agrichem company, is developing a high protein canola variety, ProPound canola, to compete with soybean, the leader in the oilseed meal market.  According to Dave Dzisiak, DowDupont North America commercial leader for grains and oilseeds, the company was set to sell ProPound canola as early as 2019.    

Soyabeans are currently the number one protein meal crop due to their 47% protein content, significantly higher than the average 37% protein content found in canola.  However, DowDupont said ProPound canola could narrow the gap by producing a canola meal with 44% protein. So far, developing high protein canola varities had always come with the downside of diminished seed or oil yield, but with ProPound developed through traditional plant breeding DowPudont  had been able to increase protein levels without lowering either seed or oil production, said Dzisiak.