Despite a growing acreage in 2021 the supply with Canola will remain tight, because of high international demand. Based on first forecasts by the market experts from the ministry of agriculture in Ottawa harvest acreage is expected to grow on a level of 8,7 Mill. hectares (+ 3 % vs. 2020). The production will follow by a plus of 6 % up to 19,9 Mill. tons, 3rd highest production after records in 2018 & 2019. While high productions in that time lead to limited commodity prices (326 €/t), we see a changed market environment because of intensive demand from global market. Consequence is an average price for the current marketing year of around 408 €/t. The current export is mainly pushed by China and European Union on a new level of close to 11 Mill. tons (+ 7 % vs. last year). Because of historical low stocks of just 1,2 Mill. tons by mid of 2021, further limited exports for the coming year are already expected.

Climate change and an increase in temperature lead in the last 30 years to a 10 days earlier start of flowering. At the same time, we see a growing risk of late frost appearance and frost damages because of frost during flowering. Researchers from the John Innes Centre and the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS) from Aberystwyth University get more light on the molecular mechanisms that allow crops to synchronize flowering with favorable conditions. collaborative study underlines that flowering based on a dynamic of several genes. A better understanding of these dynamics allows researchers to design crops  that grow better in specific environments.

RAPOOL Polska reached during the last registration meeting 3 new hybrids for introducing to the Polish market in 2021/2022. METROPOL, DESPERADO and CONDOR will extend the broad portfolio of high yielding varieties for Polish rapeseed farmers. All 3 hybrids have the TuYV resistance included, which is more and more mandatory for a high yield potential in Poland. Additionally, DESPERADO and CONDOR convince with the Rlm7 Phoma resistance and a strong plant health. As harvest stability becomes also more crucial in the last years, DESPERADO can offer with the Pod-shatter resistance a stronger yield protection.   

Ukrainian rapeseed production slips into new difficulties after a couple of profitable years. Based on a sharp drop in the rapeseed planted area and additionally high production risks Ukraine could even lose its position as largest exporter of rapeseed to the EU in the 2021-22 marketing year. Just 880.000 hectares had been sowed with rapeseed for harvest 2021 (- 27 % vs. last year). The main reasons for reduced acreage were unfavorable weather conditions and low yields in 2020. Additionally, rapeseed prices did not follow so much the global price rallies: while rapeseed just grow up with 6 % till end of November, wheat became more expensive with 37 % in the same period. Based on current concerns regarding the quality of the fields, production estimations ranging from only 1,7 Mill. tons up to 2,1 Mill. tons. That means Ukrainian export is expected to drop down again in 2021/2022, which will bring the European rapeseed market under pressure, as usually Ukraine fulfills half of the European import demand.

The annual profitability figures from the Hungarian Institute of Agricultural Economics Nonprofit Ltd. (AKI) highlight very well the challenging production conditions outside in the fields. Even rapeseed lost some interests because of lower yields in 2018/2019, it has still a high attractivity in comparison with wheat, maize, sunflower and soya. During the analyzed period 2015 – 2019 rapeseed deliver an average income per season of 208 €/ha (without subsidies), which bring it on the 2nd place behind maize (228 €/ha). With a plus of 47 €/ha in comparison with sunflower, rapeseed underline again its position as the most valuable oil crop.

Based on price rallies on the global markets for plant oil, rapeseed reached also in the EU new multi-year records during the last weeks and forecasts for harvest 2021 confirm again robust prospects. This throws the traditional crop rotation upside down and offer with spring rapeseed a new potential candidate for sowing in cereal heavy rotations. Sarah Hawthorne (DSV breeder) underlines the differences in crop nutrition, as “Spring sown OSR benefits more from natural N mobilization in the soil because the highest demand is later in the season when soils are warmer and more active”. Already since early 1970s breeders from RAPOOL developing the crop with new varieties like MENTHAL as the first spring sown Clubroot hybrid in Europe, which convince with broad package against biotic and abiotic stress.