Utilization potential ofCrambe abyssinica

Crambe abyssinica can be grown in the principal wheat growing areas of Western U. S. and in the Northern Corn Belt states with yields of 2000 lb of seed/acre. The seed contains 35% oil, in which erucic acid constitutes 60% of the total fatty acids. The erucic acid can be converted by ozonolysis into brassylic and pelargonic acids. It has been estimated that the chemical industry could afford to pay about 7.7ঁ/lb for theCrambe oil, when used for the production of both brassylic and pelargonic acid, assuming an 85% ozonolysis yield for the oil and a sales price of 35ঁ/lb for brassylic acid and 15ঁ/lb for pelargonic acid. A higher price could be justified if some of the indicated improvements could be accomplished. The net dollar return/acre has been conservatively estimated to be about $19/acre. The potential market for theCrambe crop would probably require the planting of about 65,000 acres.