Oilseeds and edible nuts are produced throughout the world in virtually all agro-economic zones. World production of oilseeds in 2000 was around 110 million tonnes with developing countries providing over 50%. Most developing countries have commercial oilseed crushing plants but remain net importers of edible oil and exporters of oilseed cake as animal-feed ingredients for the developed world. Forecasts indicate a continuing world deficit of oilseeds and many developing countries are well-placed to increase production and meet this need.

NRI carries out research, consultancy and training in the following five areas:

• use as oilseeds and oils human food;
• improvements to oilseed processing at the small to medium-scale;
• improved utilisation of oilseed cake and other by-products of the crushing industry;
• minimising deterioration of oilseeds and oils;
• assessing needs and identifying markets.

Projects

C0521 and A0363: Improving the small-scale extraction of coconut oil. Collaborators Tanzania, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia. Funding sources: Common Fund for Commodities and DFID.

A0704: To compare the performance of different types of ram presses to process hybrid sunflower, low-oil content sunflower seed, groundnut kernels and sesame seed. Funding source: DFID

C0320: Development of analytical methods for monitoring PAH in copra and coconut oil.

A0082: The development of an integrated package of sampling, sample preparation,analysis and control methods for mycotoxins. Funding source: DFID.

Publications

Head, S., Swetman, A., Nagler, M. (1999) Studies on deterioration and aflatoxin contamination in copra during storage Oleagineux, Corps Gras, Lipides 6(4): (July/August 1999).

Swetman, A., Head, S. and Evans, D. (1999) Contamination of Coconut Oil by PAH. INFORM 10: 706-712.

Head, S. and Swetman, A. (1999)_ "Efficiency of coconut oil extraction using the aqueous process". INFORM 10: 1148-1158..

Swetman, A. and Head, S. (1999) Traditional methods for processing oilseeds. INFORM 10: 151-154.