Cultivation

Flaxseed, also called linseed, (Linum usitatissimum), is a traditional fibre- and oil-bearing plant and one of the oldest crops. The significance of the cultivation of flaxseed immensely declined at the end of the 19th century, when cotton replaced flaxseed in textile production. Flaxseed is cultivated in Asia, Europe and North and South America, as well as in Australia.

For use as a fibre plant, "flax" is cultivated; for the production of linseed oil and the seed "oil flax" is cultivated.

Utilisation

The foods won from oil flax are:

• Flax seed that is baked into bread or cookies.
• From flax seed (linseed), linseed oil is won. With 85 per cent, it possesses the highest concentration of valuable unsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 fatty acids).

Renewable Resources

• The oil won out of flaxseed is used for the production of paint and varnish as well as linoleum.
• Oil flax also is processed in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.
• Flax serves the production of linen and cellulose as well as materials for construction and isolation.

Gene technology: aims of research and development

Agronomic traits

Weed control

• Herbicide tolerance

Disease resistance

• Fungal resistance

Resistance against pests

• Insect resistance

Adaptation to climate and local factors

• Stress tolerance

Quality traits

Modified composition of ingredients

• Oil composition

Enrichment with health-promoting ingredients, such as

• Flavonoids (antioxidants)

• Omega 3 fatty acids: by transference of a marine algae to flaxseed, the seeds then contain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are a feature of fat-laden saltwater fishes. These acids are assumed to have a preventive effect towards hypertension and specific degenerative diseases.

Renewable resources

Modified composition

• Modified elasticity and thermoplastic characteristics of the flaxseed fibre for the synthesis of biological degradable synthetic material.

Production of pharmaceutical agents

• Molecular pharming: usage of GM flaxseed as a system to produce pharmaceuticals; to date, only experimental.

Land reclamation

• Phytoremediation heavy metal strained soil: the plants are modified to that effect that they are able to grow within this soil and can extract heavy metals and then accumulate within the plant biomass.

Field Trials with GM flaxseed

Use of GM Flaxseed