Oleic Sunflower production : current situation and trends for the futu re

 The oil obtained from the classical sunflower type contains around 65 % of linoleic acid and 20 % of oleic acid. During the two last decades, efforts have been made by the breeders to select varieties displaying a high content in oleic acid (range from 70 % for the mid-oleic-type until more than 90% for the very high oleic ones). The aim of this paper is to give an overview on the oleic sunflower production at the international level with focus on the largest sunflower cultivation area in the world which covers European Union (EU) and the black sea countries. Key factors of its successful introduction are analysed and some perspectives are drawn for the future.  The used methods consist of an analysis and a synthesis of data collected through contacts with operators (surfaces, prices), through analytical surveys (grain quality) and through surveys about the outlets for France. Results of different private or public studies (panel Nielsen about the oil consume in France, prospective study on bioproducts needs in France and in EU..). The case of France which is the worldwide leading country is detailed.  Our estimates for the most important sunflower area in the world (EU27+ Turkey + Russia+ Ukraine) show that the surfaces of oleic sunflower have quite doubled in 5 years, from around 500 000 hectares (ha) near to 950 000 ha. The oleic types are mostly introduced in the South-Western Europe and in Hungary where their proportion reach around 30 % of the total sunflower acreage meanwhile the eastern countries starts only cultivating such types (1% of the total surfaces). In Europe, the development is based on the oleic type (more than 75 % of oleic acid). Very high oleic types (> 90%) are only cultivated for minor outlets (especially for biolubricants). France is the leading producing country of oleic sunflower oil (estimation of 284 000 tons in 20102011) The success of the oleic introduction in Europe is based i)on the quick progress of varieties performances ii)on the know-how of farmers, cooperatives and crushers in building a reliable supply chain, including a incentive premium (about +10% of the commodity price for the farmer) iii) on the good quality of the harvested seeds (the 5 years ONIDOL/CETIOM survey shows that the mean oleic content ranged in France between 82 % and 86,5%) iiii)on the oil demand for food market and in a less extend for non food uses.  Oleic sunflower performances have now reached a level very close to the classical ones and a good know-how has been implemented by the actors of the supply chain in several European countries. New producers are experimenting the oleic cultivation in the Eastern and Black See areas. The oleic surfaces can be expected to continue to grow for several reasons such as higher healthy concerns leading to substitute hydrogenated fats by oleic oil and to better balance the fatty acids intakes, societal ban of palm oil, and the interest of the predominant C18:1 fraction of the oleic sunflower oil for non food application in a context of high fossil prices and biosourcing needs (for biopolymers, biosurfactants, synthesis intermediary..). Several questions can be addressed: moving towards 100 % oleic production in some Western European countries ? or/and transfer of the know-how in promising areas like Ukraine ? Changes in the market demand in traditional consuming countries like Turkey ?  This study delivers useful quantitative and qualitative data on the oleic sunflower introduction in Europe and on the major points which allowed such a success. The extension of oleic sunflower is expected to continue and to accelerate in response to stronger demand of the food industry (heath and environmental concerns) at short term. At short/medium long term (2020, 2030) oleic sunoil could find large outlets in the oleochemical industry (especially chemical intermediates and biopolymers) thanks to the ongoing innovation and to more severe regulatory context.