You are in > Home > SAC Consulting > Consultancy Services > Consultancy Services F - H > Farm Diversification > Diversification Database > Novel and Non-Food Crops > Crambe

Crambe

Pages In This Document

General

Crambe (Crambe abyssinica) is another crop which can be grown to produce erucic acid.

At 56–58% erucic acid in the seed oil, Crambe has the advantage of containing a higher erucic acid content than HEAR.  

Availability of Crambe is currently restricted to spring sown types and seed yields are slightly lower than spring oilseed rape.  Oil contents are also lower than rapeseed, partially offsetting the advantages of higher erucic acid level.

Agronomy of Crambe generally follows that of spring oilseed rape.  As Crambe is not a brassica it contributes to the break between Brassicas required in the rotation.  

 

Please remember that special consideration must be given to the VAT aspects of diversification as the new activity may not be treated the same as the existing farm business from a VAT standpoint.

Market

Contracts were on offer for cultivation of Crambe throughout the UK for a number of years in the early 2000s.  With comparatively low yields returns for the crop struggled to be competitive and there was little commercial uptake.   Work is ongoing to develop winter Crambe varieties which could offer better economic potential.

Physical Requirements

No information available

Costs

The following costing information is general and current prices should be sought for budgeting purposes.

Capital Costs

No information available

Running Costs

No information available

Returns

No information available

Constraints

No information available

Training

No information available

Grants

No information available

Further Information

Contact

Dr Elaine Booth
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC Consulting Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate,
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711079
Fax 01224 711293

Add to Address Book | Help