Canola

In agriculture, Canola is a trademarked cultivar of the rapeseed plant from which rapeseed oil is obtained. It was initially bred in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur Stefansson in the 1970s.

Rapeseed oil was produced in the 19th century as a source of a lubricant for steam engines. However, the oil had a bitter taste due to high levels of glucosinolates (mustard flavor). The oil was also thought to cause heart problems due to high levels of erucic acid; however, it was later noticed that laboratory rats showed the same symptoms when fed similar quantities of other fats. Canola has been bred to reduce the amount of glucosinolates and erucic acid, yielding a palatable oil. Canola stands for Canadian oil, or the backronym CANadian Oil Less Acid.

In 2004, North Dakota produced 91% of the Canola in the United States.