Major edible vegetable oils in terms of production include from soybean, canola, sunflower and peanut. They are source of edible FAs (saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated), which play an important role in cellular metabolism as a way to store energy and also by providing energy when required.
What is vegetable oil used for?
In the past, plant breeders have made selection and developed high oil-yielding varieties largely for food-based applications. Besides their use for edible purpose, the utilization of vegetable oil is now expanding from nutrition point of view to industrial-based applications to biofuels.
Can vegetable oil be used as a biofuel?
Besides their use for edible purpose, the utilization of vegetable oil is now expanding from nutrition point of view to industrial-based applications to biofuels. It is now possible to modify plant metabolism especifically fatty acid synthesis, accumulation and composition.