Optimization of KOH-catalyzed methanolysis of hempseed oil

•Optimization of hempseed oil methanolysis by CCRD coupled with RSM and ANN-GA.•Both models are successful in modeling the FAME content.•RSM model shows better modeling and prediction capability than the ANN-GA model.•Almost complete oil conversion is achieved under optimum reaction conditions.•The properties of the obtained FAME are generally within standard specifications. The methanolysis of hempseed oil catalyzed by potassium hydroxide was studied using the full central composite rotatable design. The methanolysis reaction was modeled and optimized by the response surface methodology (RSM) and an artificial neural network model combined with a genetic algorithm (ANN-GA). All individual factors have significant influence on the FAME content (p-value