The popularity of so-called «niche oilseeds» is growing as restrictions are imposed on the export of major crops.
In Russia, the popularity of oilseed flax, safflower and other niche crops, that is, secondary to such crops as sunflower and soybeans, is growing.
According to the Oil and Fat Union of the Russian Federation, this year the area under oilseed flax has grown significantly and amounted to 1.7 million hectares against 1.4 million hectares last year.
At the same time, in 2022, even more areas were sown with oilseed flax: up to 2 million hectares.
As for safflower, 142 thousand hectares were sown with it this year. And here we also see an increase compared to the previous season, when the total area under safflower was about 138 thousand hectares.
Mustard is also one of the popular oilseed crops.
Farmers like it because it usually easily withstands both drought and cold, which often become the very factors that significantly reduce the yield of other oilseeds.
In addition, mustard is not too demanding on the soil, it can be safely planted where cereals, legumes and other crops were previously grown.
At the moment, about 220 thousand hectares are sown with mustard in the Russian Federation, which is about 2.4% of the total area under oilseeds.
Mustard is also popular as an export crop, last season about 130 thousand tons of mustard were exported from the Russian Federation, and it is not subject to duties.
Finally, the area under camelina has, on the contrary, been decreasing in the last 2 years. In 2022, about 60 thousand hectares were sown with this crop, and at the moment this value has almost halved, to 31 thousand hectares.
Experts note that small farms are most often interested in niche crops.
Oils from such crops can be sold to those interested in healthy food, including vegan. Growing interest in such products allows us to see great potential in growing such crops, so it is possible that in the future they will become even more in demand than at present.
As for flax, the volume of its processing in the current season is estimated at about 100 thousand tons, which is more than twice the figure for last season.
Experts also note that now Russia has become a leader in the world market both in terms of flax seed production and in terms of its export.
Moreover, it has won the championship in terms of supply volumes both in kind and in monetary terms. There is every reason to believe that this area will continue to develop in the future.
