Canada's Sunflower Seed Industry

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual broadleaf plant that can be successfully grown in most regions of Canada. It is the only oilseed native to the northern Great Plains of North America and has been grown commercially in Canada since the early 1940s.

Canada produces both confectionery and oilseed varieties of sunflower seed, and is a competitive partner in the growing international market for this special crop. Confectionary seed is usually more striped and somewhat larger than the black shelled oilseed varieties. The hardy sunflower has a wide range of uses, from the confectionary and baking industries, to the birdseed industry, to the animal feed industry.

Sunflower grows best on loam, silty loam, and silty clay loam soils with good drainage and low salinity. It has a deep tap root that can obtain water and nutrients from deep in the soil. Because of this root system, sunflowers are very adaptable and can be harvested even after an early snowfall, without reduction in quality. This adaptability makes them a viable alternative and rotational crop to traditional grains in the southern parts of the Canadian Prairies.

Most sunflower research in Canada is done by the private sector, with some government research conducted in Brooks, Winnipeg, and Morden in Manitoba. Shorter season varieties have been developed for areas where traditional hybrid species cannot be grown. Sunola^TM is a miniature, open pollinated sunflower developed at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Saskatoon. Its oil content is equal to the best sunflower hybrids. Sunwheat^TM is a dwarf hybrid sunflower; its oil content is slightly lower than Sunola^TM. It is more suited to the arid areas and able to withstand periods of summer heat better than some other crops. NuSun^TM is another variety of sunflower developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that has a low saturated fat profile. The National Sunflower Association of Canada is also testing new varieties as well as managing growth in production and processing.

Area of Production

The main production area of Canadian sunflower seed is south-central Manitoba, while other major producing regions include south-western Manitoba and south-eastern Saskatchewan. Between 1999 and 2001, the harvested area of sunflower seed decreased 15% from 79 thousand hectares to 67 thousand hectares. The area of production bounced back in 2002, growing to 95 thousand hectares, followed by another increase in 2003 to 115 thousand hectares, an overall rise of 72% from the low of 2001. The forecast for 2004 is for the production area to drop significantly, down 26% to 85 thousand hectares. ⁽¹⁾

Yield

Sunflower seed yield has fluctuated greatly over the past five years. Sunflower seed yield was 1.54 tonnes per hectare in 1999, increasing to 1.73 tonnes per hectare in 2000. In 2001, yield dropped to 1.55 tonnes per hectare, rebounding in 2002 to 1.66 tonnes per hectare. Yield decreased again in 2003, falling 21% to 1.31 tonnes per hectare. The yield for 2004 is expected to increase to 1.59 tonnes per hectare. ⁽¹⁾

Volume of Production

With the development of higher-yield hybrid varieties, new herbicides, and improved crop management techniques, the volume of sunflower seed production has grown considerably. In 1999, Canadian production of sunflower seed was 122 thousand tonnes. Production dropped slightly in 2000 to 119 thousand tonnes, followed by an additional 13% decrease in 2001 to 104 thousand tonnes. The downward trend of sunflower seed production was reversed in 2002, with production rising 51% to 157 thousand tonnes; however, in 2003, production declined once more to 150 thousand tonnes. In 2004, production is forecast to continue to decrease, down 10% to 135 thousand tonnes, due to a decrease in seeded area. Production is expected to decrease for both the confectionary and oilseed varieties of sunflower seed. ⁽¹⁾

Disposition

Despite its small export volume, Canadian exports of sunflower seeds have grown steadily over the past five years, accounting for almost 68% of production in 2003. Between 1999 and 2003, exports increased annually from 42 thousand tonnes to 101 thousand tonnes, of which over 87% goes to the United States. Canadian exports are forecast to remain stable in 2004. ⁽¹⁾

Additional Information

The majority of the oilseed variety of sunflower seed are crushed after the hull is removed. The oil is used for frying or to produce salad dressings, shortening, and margarine. The meal is used as a protein supplement in livestock feed as it usually contains about 35 percent protein. Sunflower seeds pack a strong nutritional wallop. They contain almost every vitamin (except Vitamin C) and substantial amounts of key minerals, including magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. In addition, the protein content of sunflower seeds is so high, they can serve as a meat substitute. The confectionery variety is considered to be one of the healthiest snack foods available.

There is a growing market for Canadian-grown sunflower seed. The birdseed market, for Canadian-grown sunflower seeds, is growing at an annual rate of 10% in North America. Oil sunflower seeds are marketed primarily to the North American birdseed industry and include bulk shipments as well as cleaned and bagged product. Confectionery sunflower seeds are popular in Canada and in many countries in the western hemisphere. Confectionery sunflower seeds fall into three categories: in shell, kernel, and birdseed. Larger sunflower seeds (in shell) are roasted, salted, and packaged for human consumption and are classified as either large or jumbo. Medium-sized seeds (kernel) are de-hulled and packaged for human consumption as well. These are primarily used for the bakery industry, but are also traded domestically and exported. Smaller seeds, known as "striped bird food," are sold in North American birdseed markets.

The black-shelled oilseed variety is richer in oil and therefore better suited to the production of sunflower oil. Compared with other vegetable oils and animal fats, the oil in sunflower seed is very high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it easily digestible and provides a good option when choosing cooking oil, particularly if high cholesterol is a concern.

For the latest market information and analysis available from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, please consult the following publications:

• Canada: Pulse and Special Crops Outlook
• Bi-weekly Bulletin
• Drought Watch

⁽¹⁾  Forecast based on August-July crop year, Market Analysis Division, Strategic Policy Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, April 28, 2004.