India has approved a 101 billion rupee ($1.2 billion) initiative to double edible oil production within seven years, aiming to reduce reliance on imports. The program will boost oilseed productivity using high-yield varieties and advanced technologies, targeting a production increase from 12.7 to 25.45 million metric tons by 2030-31.
What is a vegetable oil?
Vegetable oils, or vegetable fats, are oils extracted from seeds or from other parts of edible plants. Like animal fats, vegetable fats are mixtures of triglycerides. Soybean oil, grape seed oil, and cocoa butter are examples of seed oils, or fats from seeds.
How is vegetable oil produced?
The production process of vegetable oil involves the removal of oil from plant components, typically seeds. This can be done via mechanical extraction using an oil mill or chemical extraction using a solvent. The extracted oil can then be purified and, if required, refined or chemically altered.
What are some examples of vegetable oil?
Soybean oil, grape seed oil, and cocoa butter are examples of seed oils, or fats from seeds. Olive oil, palm oil, and rice bran oil are examples of fats from other parts of plants. In common usage, vegetable oil may refer exclusively to vegetable fats which are liquid at room temperature. Vegetable oils are usually edible.