Lukashenko: Rapeseed will revolutionize Belarusian agriculture

What are the advantages and properties of rapeseed?

“Rapeseed means income for farmers. Today, at a time of the frenzied sanctions policies, Europe still wants to be supplied with rapeseed oil. We need to aim for one million tonnes. We already harvest more than 700,000t today. Even with the current acreage we can produce one million tonnes if we farm smartly.

Winter barley and rapeseed can turn the tide in agriculture. We will double down on these crops,” Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a working trip to Mogilev Oblast in June of last year.

You may not understand agriculture at all, but you will recognize this crop from a thousand. Especially during the flowering period. Bright yellow fields become an ideal location for photos every year. It is a beautiful landscape for townspeople, but for farmers and scientists it is literally a field of opportunities.

“This crop is knowledge-intensive. We work in close cooperation with all biology institutes. Our goal is to create varieties, hybrids and develop technologies for their cultivation,” said Yadviga Pilyuk, Professor, Head of the Department of Oilseeds at the Research Center for Agriculture, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The expert noted that Belarusian scientists work with the best rapeseed breeding centers in Russia. “Literally today we handed over samples to the Institute of Oilseeds in Krasnodar. They will reciprocate us by sending their samples. We exchange seeding materials. I think we are about to merge our forces to select hybrids.”

Yadviga Pilyuk drew attention to the high competitions among rapeseed selection centers. “We have to compete with over 20 top-notch breeding farms in the world. They collaborate and they recognize us for our achievements. But they are always thinking of ways of squeezing us from the market and driving up prices,” she noted.

There are two types of rapeseed: spring and winter. The crop is harvested twice, in summer and autumn. Winter rapeseed has a higher yield and more oil in the seeds. But it is more demanding. Initially it struggled in our continental climate. It took Belarusian scientists 20 years to create winter-hardy varieties. Today, rapeseed is the main oilseed crop in Belarus.

“We have spring rapeseed. It's like a backup crop. Sometimes winter rapeseed does not winter well and then farmers use spring variety to help the oil processing industry. Winter crops are more productive,” Yadviga Pilyuk said.

The expert spoke about the advantages of rapeseed over other crops. “This is not a grain crop. It has advantages over crops such as beets or flax. It does not require special equipment. It can be cropped by grain harvesters. But they need to have sealed attachments.”

Yadviga Pilyuk also mentioned some difficulties encountered during harvesting of rapeseed. “Rapeseed is like water. It is 10 times smaller than cereals. Very free-flowing. Leakage losses can reach up to 30% of the harvest,” she stressed.

How much rapeseed is harvested in Belarus?

Oilseeds are the main source of vegetable oils in Belarus. The natural and economic conditions of our country make it possible to cultivate rapeseed effectively. Rapeseed accounts for 97% of the total production of oilseed crops. Last year, Belarus harvested over 800,000t. But it wasn't always this way.

For example, in the early 2000s, the country would harvest a little more than 100,000t. But even such a volume made it possible to meet the state procurement needs in full. The president instructed to master the technology of cultivation, increase production volumes and earn money. No wonder rapeseed is called ‘oilseed gold'.

Today Belarus is among the top 20 exporters of rapeseed. We are the 9th largest exporter of rapeseed oil. Last year alone, we sold the crop to more than 20 countries and earned $640 million, in the face of the unprecedented sanctions.

The oil-producing companies in Belarus process about 2 million tonnes of oilseeds per year. More than 90 enterprises are engaged in the production of rapeseed oil.

“What if tomorrow your people will have nothing to eat because of a drought or some other calamity? We may sell something to you. We always sold rapeseed oil instead of sunflower oil, olive oil to you and other European countries. We grow a lot of rapeseed and sell it to you and will keep doing it. You need timber, furniture, and other products. You bought them from us. We will continue selling them to you. Business will always find a way. It is simply insane to impose sanctions in this interdependent world. But you are doing it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said commenting on the short-sighted policy of the European Union in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

"Aleksandr Grigorievich is a forward-looking person. A visionary. He sees much further ahead. A strong politician hailing from the countryside. In our country, sunflower does not ripen enough to make sunflower oil production economically feasible. As the climate is getting warmer we might produce sunflower seeds in southern regions in the future,” Anatoly Ulasevich, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian state food industry concern Belgospishcheprom, said.

Some 10-15 years ago, it was very insightful of the head of state to give instructions to develop our oil and fat industry and increase the area under rapeseed. “If, for example, we stop getting sunflower oil from other countries, we will have our own oil to saturate the market. This is a smart decision,” Anatoly Ulasevich is convinced.

Health benefits of rapeseed oil

Rapeseed oil is called “northern olive oil” because it is not inferior to olive oil in terms of oleic acid content. Nutritionists say that it is a valuable source of polyunsaturated fatty acids that have a potent positive effect on vessels and skin. Its benefits are many. Rapeseed oil is becoming increasingly popular with Belarusians. The price is reasonable, and the taste does not differ much from that of sunflower oil. As the president mentioned more than once, his lunch always includes products seasoned or cooked with rapeseed oil.

"The European Union has not discontinued the import of rapeseed oil from Belarus, they keep buying it. And our people are already getting used to rapeseed oil. Of all types of oil I eat only rapeseed oil. Even though it is slightly bitter, it is a domestic product, grown on our land and it is very healthy. Europe understands this, the Americans understand. They buy huge amounts of rapeseed oil,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressing the head of the Belgospishcheprom concern who delivered a report to the president two years ago.

Reasons for promoting rapeseed production

Belarus is located in the zone of risky farming. The period between sowing and harvesting is very short. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate those crops that can grow well in such conditions. And rapeseed is one of them. Climate change is taking its toll. Scientists are working to adapt rapeseed to unfavorable environment, so that it winters well, stays healthy and pest-resistant. For example, today there are rapeseed varieties and hybrids that contain up to 50% of oil and up to 27% of protein.

“Aleksandr Lukashenko supported the idea to promote rapeseed production from the very beginning. Indeed, it is impossible to sow 400,000 tonnes without the support of the head of state. He visited us for the first time in 2000 and for the second time in 2005. After that we hosted delegations of various levels. The president did not forget his visits. He has a good memory. One day he asked: What did I tell you? We planted rapeseed all over Belarus. Yet, the sales were poor until we started deepening rapeseed processing. We have placed rapeseed oil production on a solid footing. We have a good product. More than 40 oil refineries process this crop. It means new jobs. National asset,” Yadviga Pilyuk said.

Products made of rapeseed oil

Rapeseed oil is not only a good choice for cooking. It is used in medicine, skin care, manufacturing, agriculture. It is a good base oil for many lubricants and greases. Rapeseed is used to produce an environmentally friendly fuel - biodiesel. Rapeseed meal is also of value. It is an excellent protein feed for animals. In other words, this crop can provide the country with food, fuel, and raw materials for industry.

“It is just as good for human health as sea fish, fish oil, essential amino acids. Rapeseed is not only used to produce refined cooking oil, but also margarine, mayonnaise, even laundry soap, bath soap, cream soap, baby soap, and various other products. In addition, rapeseed oil is used in confectionery industry to make cakes, cookies, various kinds of pastry,” Anatoly Ulasevich said.

“Rapeseed meal, a by-product of the extraction of oil from rapeseed, is used in animal feed. In other words, it is a protein-rich raw material for poultry, pigs, cattle and other animals. This product has a positive effect on milk and meat yield, weight gain and so on,” Anatoly Ulasevich said.

Rapeseed harvesting prospects for 2023

In 2022 the sale of bottled rapeseed oil on the domestic market grew 1.5 times over 2021 and 5.5 times over 2020. Obviously, more and more Belarusians buy this product. One million tonnes of oilseeds are to be harvested this year, which is a new record. For this, more land was designated for this crop. Yet, no matter how hard scientists and farmers are trying, much still depends on weather. This golden crop is not easy to get.

“We have to give impetus to this great cause. Believe me, it will be a revolution in agriculture. There will be famine in the world, even I already see that. If we ensure food security... We have already ensured it,” the president said during his working trip to Mogilev Oblast in July 2022.