The genetically engineered rape which KWS Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG has been testing in field trials at Wetze near the company's headquarters in Germany has been harvested. These
trials were conducted as part of a research cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, the Federal Office of Plant Breeding Research and the German plant breeding companies Deutsche Saatenveredelung GmbH (DSV) of Lippstadt and Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke K.G. (NPZ) of Hohenlieth.

The rape plants tested proved to have genetically altered fatty acid patterns in their seed oil. KWS is studying rape for stability of fatty acid patterns and the quality of the seed oil under varying
environmental conditions in these field trials. The first results will be available after the lab analyses in the coming weeks. Further breeding steps and several years of research will be necessary, however, before mature varieties can be developed.

The aim of this work is to improve the composition of the fatty acids contained in rapeseed oil to make it suitable as a renewable resource for industry. New grades of rapeseed oil will offer
environmentally friendly, resource-saving alternatives to petroleum chemistry and provide farmers with a new source of income. Fatty acids are very important for the production of washing powders, detergents and cosmetics. They are also widely used in industry, e.g. as a lubricant in the paint and photographic industries.

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