Biofuel production spurs 7% growth in annual vegetable oil consumption.

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World oilseed production exceeds 500 million tons annually, with many small, economically-underdeveloped, equatorial countries involved in production and export of oils. Oilseed is a vital ingredient for production of nutraceuticals, aromatherapy, skin care and industrial lubricants. The industry has the ability to provide affordable food and nutritional and pharmaceutical products to developing economies. Additionally, increasing concerns about energy consumption have spurred interest in plant-based resources for fuels. Over 1 billion tons of worldwide vegetable oil is produced annually, producing over 1.5 million tons of biodiesel. A continued switch from fossil fuel to renewable fuels will continue to drive the demand for oilseed production in the use of diesels. As the industry develops, so does the scrutiny of the oilseed industry production process. Focus continues to increase on the social and environmental impacts of the industry.

Oil production has the potential to cause significant environmental damage as fuel is burned to heat boilers and plantation development leads to land use and biodiversity issues. Many oilseed producing countries however are beginning to look to environmentally sustainable options for oilseed, including the use of biogas produced in the process as an energy source. Additionally, producers see the possibility to mitigate risks by implementing environmental management systems and processes for consistent communication and documentation. Environmental standards such as ISO 14001 provide producers with guidelines to implement systems to international standards. As demand continues to increase, environmentally sound production of organic oilseed will provide certified producers with access to large Western markets and the ability to capture price premiums.