NuSun(TM) sunflower oil could become the next cooking oil giant.

A promising alternative for U.S. sunflower growers, oil produced from NuSun hybrids is low in saturated fats and doesn't require hydrogenation - a necessary food-processing step in the production of many cooking oils. Hydrogenation creates trans-fatty acids, which have been linked to heart-related diseases.

According to Dave Voss, Mycogen Seeds oil crops product manager, Mycogen Seeds has played a major role in researching, introducing and marketing the NuSun hybrids to meet consumer demand for healthier cooking oils.

"NuSun holds new opportunities for U.S. sunflower growers - a welcome breakthrough in the oilseed market." Voss says.

Win-win situation

Larry Kleingartner, executive director of the National Sunflower Association, agrees that NuSun hybrids may help boost oil sales in the United States.

"While the sunflower industry was searching for more stable domestic oil sales, numerous food processors were looking for an alternate vegetable oil," he says. "The two entities spent considerable time and money exploring healthier, less costly cooking oil options. Working together, they created NuSun hybrids - a win-win product for both parties."

Along with being a healthier food preparation option, NuSun costs less to process. Cutting out the hydrogenation step saves processors about 2 cents per pound in refining costs, Kleingartner says.

"It appears there will be a strong demand from food processors for NuSun hybrids," Voss explains. "Our best prospects are snack food makers, fast food restaurants and salad oil companies."

About 1 billion pounds of vegetable oil are used annually to make potato chips and other similar products. Processors currently rely on cottonseed oil and hydrogenated soybean oil for this process. Cottonseed oil's saturated fat content runs about 27 percent, while soy oil ranges from 15 to 16 percent. Both of these levels surpass standards for being labeled "low in saturated fat." Using NuSun allows snack food manufacturers to claim "one gram or less of saturated fat per
serving."

"There's plenty of interest in NuSun from smaller, regional potato chip companies," Kleingartner explains. "And, large processors are asking when more product will be available."

NuSun is extremely functional for frying applications. In several frying tests, NuSun performed as well as cottonseed oil - the industry standard. Its other attractive qualities include a pleasing flavor, smell and extended shelf life.

Out of the chute

According to Voss, the launch of commercial NuSun hybrids began in 1998. Sunflower growers planted only 100,000 acres, due to limited seed availability. Next season, NuSun hybrids will cover about 500,000 acres. Markets will determine future growth. He adds that sunflower producers are the "jury" when it comes to adopting NuSun hybrids.

Data from replicated research trials and farmer strip trials in the Dakotas and Minnesota confirm that the NuSun introductions from Mycogen are performing equal to or superior to the traditional linoleic hybrids in the market. Mycogen Seeds currently offers three NuSun sunflower hybrids - 8242NS, 8377NS and 8488NS.

An early season hybrid, 8242NS displays exceptional plant health, standability and yield potential. Growers like its medium height and excellent plant uniformity.

8377NS, an attractive mid-season hybrid with medium plant height and excellent uniformity, offers very good premature-ripening tolerance and high yield potential.

The full-season 8488NS hybrid also offers very good premature-ripening tolerance, as well as high yield potential and healthy plants. Both 8377NS and 8488NS adapt well across the full-season areas of the Dakotas and the western High Plains.

Mycogen Seeds Sunflower Research Director Joe Caroline points out that NuSun hybrids currently are a significant part of Mycogen Seeds' breeding program. He says it's important for Mycogen to provide growers with hybrids needed for today's markets, whether it's NuSun (mid-oleic), high-oleic or the traditional (linoleic) sunflower oil hybrids.

For more information about Mycogen Seeds and its products, contact your local Mycogen Seeds dealer or call (800) 380-7282. Mycogen brand corn, soybean, sunflower, alfalfa and sorghum seeds are marketed through a North American distribution system of sales representatives and distributors. Mycogen is an acknowledged leader in developing technology-based products to control agricultural pests and improve food and fiber production.

Company news release
N1858