Automatically generated translation
Complete, a project involving four INRAe laboratories (C2VN, PEGASE, IGEPP, EVA) and Terres Inovia, was presented at the Salon International de l'Agriculture on Thursday February 26. It aims to enhance the value of rapeseed, from cultivation to consumption, via animal feed.
Led by INRAE (UMR C2VN) and launched in 2022, the Complete project aims to develop an integrated approach to the valorization of rapeseed bioactives (glucosinolates, polyphenols, tannins, etc.), combining improved cultivation practices, industry and health benefits. It aims to integrate sustainable agricultural practices to optimize the production of quality seeds, particularly in terms of protein content and bioactive molecules, for the production of functional foods. This includes the bioprocessing of rapeseed into functional feed for dairy cows, with a view to producing milk with health benefits for the consumer, while reducing the overall environmental impact. The project thus combines agronomic, environmental, industrial and related animal and human health issues.
Five areas of work
More specifically, we are working on several points:
- Study of the impact of agricultural practices (genotype x fertilization interactions) on rapeseed quality (accumulation of seed compounds).
- Study of the impact of crushing methods on bioactive molecules and oilcake quality
- Reduction of oxidative stress to optimize the nutritional value of oilcake
- Reduced environmental impact compared with imported soybean meal
- Development of high value-added niche products and opening up of new markets for rapeseed-based products targeting animal and human health.
Promising results
Overall, the initial results of the project are very encouraging. In terms of farming practices, an experimental set-up involving two rapeseed genotypes set up as part of the project has shown that, depending on the varietal choice, nitrogen and sulfur fertilization management can have a significant impact on the nutritional quality (oil, proteins, glucosinolates, polyphenols) of the seeds.
One of Terres Inovia's research priorities is to identify the processing conditions that will best valorize rapeseed cake and its bioactive molecules. " Moderate mechanical pressing (cooking at 110°C - pressure) reduces the residual fat content (8%) and maintains good feed intake and milk production, unlike over-pressing, which degrades biomolecules and alters overall protein quality ", explains Têko GOUYO, Terres Inovia's research manager.
The project also looked at the effects of oilcake intake on the nutritional performance and oxidative stress of dairy cows, with experiments on 45 farm animals. " We found less mastitis in cows fed preserved oilcake, and good protein utilization efficiency ". Tests carried out on OB/OB mice fed with preserved oilcake extracts, rich in bioactives, also showed a reduction in oxidative stress.