The question of whether canola is a grain or an oilseed is a common source of confusion. This uncertainty arises because canola is a globally traded commodity crop that shares many handling and marketing characteristics with traditional cereal grains. However, the botanical and compositional answer is definitive: canola is not a grain. Its classification lies in the fundamental biological differences between the plant families and the primary substance for which each seed is harvested.
Defining Grains Versus Oilseeds
The distinction between a true grain and an oilseed is based on the plant’s family and the chemical composition of its seed. True grains, also known as cereal grains, are the edible seeds or fruits of plants belonging to the grass family (Poaceae). These include familiar crops like wheat, rice, corn, and barley. The primary purpose of harvesting a grain is to utilize its starchy endosperm, which serves as a primary source of carbohydrates.
Oilseeds are harvested primarily for their high content of fat, or oil, which is extracted through crushing and processing. These plants do not belong to the grass family, often coming from diverse groups like the mustard family (Brassicaceae) or the pea family (Fabaceae). The energy stored in an oilseed is primarily in the form of lipids rather than starch. This distinction in chemical makeup—high starch versus high fat—is the most reliable way to separate a grain from an oilseed.
The Botanical Identity of Canola
Canola is definitively classified as an oilseed because of its parentage and compositional profile. It is a specific type of rapeseed belonging to the Brassica genus, primarily cultivars of Brassica napus and Brassica rapa. This places it squarely in the Brassicaceae family, making it a relative of vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and mustard.
The name “canola” is an acronym meaning “Canadian oil, low acid.” It reflects its development through selective breeding in the 1970s to reduce undesirable compounds found in traditional rapeseed. The harvested product is a tiny, black seed that is approximately 35% to 45% oil by weight. This high lipid content confirms its classification as an oilseed, as it is crushed for oil extraction, with the remaining meal used as animal feed.
Why Canola is Grouped With Grains in Commerce
The confusion about canola’s identity stems from the way it is handled, traded, and stored within the global commodity system. Canola is cultivated as an annual crop using farming methods that closely mirror those for small cereal grains. Farmers often grow canola in rotation with grains like wheat, and the management practices, including planting and harvesting schedules, are similar.
The equipment used to harvest canola, such as the combine harvester, is the same machinery used for wheat or barley, requiring only a different header. After harvest, the seeds are transported and stored in the same infrastructure used for grains, including large silos and grain elevators. Because the seeds are small, hard, and dry, they are durable and can be stored for long periods, a characteristic they share with cereal grains. This practical commonality in logistics has resulted in the term “grain” being used loosely in agriculture to refer to any harvested seed commodity.