Sunflower Seed

Sunflower seed is the seed of the sunflower. The term "sunflower seed" is actually a misnomer when applied to the "seed" in its pericarp (hull). Botanically speaking, it is more properly referred to as an achene. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower 'kernel'.

For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solidly black, the seeds are called 'black oil sunflower seeds'. The crops may be referred to as 'oilseed sunflower' crops. These seeds are usually pressed into sunflower oil. Additionally, these seeds are generally considered the seed of choice for bird feeders.

If the husks are striped, the seeds are called 'striped sunflower seeds' or 'stripers'. Due to their lower oil content, the crops are called 'non-oilseed sunflower' crops. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a result, they may also be called 'confectionery' sunflower seed.

Apart from black and striped, there are also white sunflower seeds.

Nowadays, sunflower oil is one of the most popular oils in the world. The oil is typically extracted by applying great pressure to the sunflower seeds and collecting the oil. After extraction, the pressed sunflower seed cake can be used as a valuable livestock feed, which is rich in proteins.

Sunflower oil is healthy and natural edible oil known for its light and odorless characters. Rich in Vitamin E sunflower oil is derived from sunflower seed carrying nearly 45-50% oil content. A native of South Africa and North America sunflower is now grown all over thew world.

Sunflower seed extractions are widely used as protein material for animal feed. Indian sunflower seed extractions contain about 30% crude protein with 30% fibre. Although sunflower protein is low in lysine, methionime & cystine levels are favourable to meet poultry feed requirements. It is superior to most vegetable proteins in digestibility.

Recent development of various enzyme preparations, which can act upon fibre in sunflower meal, making it more digestible, can result in an economical substitute for various protein sources. Thus it can be used at higher levels in the poultry feed.

Global sunflower oil output is estimated at 10 million tons with over 80% of sunflower seed used for crushing to make oil. Global demand of sunflower oil is also estimated to be on par with output.

Global trade in sunflower oil is estimated to be around 3.5 million tons. Argentina, Hungary, CIS region are leading exporters while Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Spain are main importers.

The world’s largest producer of sunflower seeds is the former Soviet Union with 37% of the crop, followed by Argentina (13%), Eastern Europe (12%), and the European Union (10%).

There are three types of sunflower oil available; NuSun, linoleic and high oleic sunflower oil. All are developed with standard breeding techniques. They differ in oleic levels and each one offers unique properties.

With three types of sunflower oil available, sunflower oil meets the needs of consumer and food manufacturers alike for a healthy and high performance non-transgenic vegetable oil.