Valorization of Natural Resources Through the Study and Characterization of Plant Oil: Study of Population Varieties

In a context of expanding economies, the plant production sector in Switzerland is seeking to remain competitive. For many years, colza oil, a source of fats for consumption by the human population recognized as nutritionally valuable, had suffered from a severe loss of public image. It needed to be revitalized to become what it deserves to be in a sound nutrition environment: high quality oil for consumption by human populations. The test was performed on a new oil seed product, directly contributed to by agricultural science: oilseed rape. This assessment demonstrated the advantages of the approach, as well as a number of problems linked to it. Assessing effects and impact requires accurate targeting of the recipients of an improvement and an appreciation of their behavior. The tool could be used to provide an integrated view of the total innovation portfolios being developed by the research enterprise and, eventually, be used to devise effective strategies to increase their adoption rate and, by definition, the research efficiency of the organization.