Dear Colleagues,

Recent conflicts around the world have emphasized the vulnerability of the oil market and therefore human alimentation. Moreover, the climatic conditions (i.e., drought and high temperatures) of the current year have affected the production of oil crops. This situation has highlighted our dependence on a few of the world's dominant oil-producing species. Indeed, more than 95% of the produced oil around the world is extracted from four oilseed species. It appears important and necessary to identify, evaluate, and produce other oil plant species in order to diversify the secure sources of vegetable oil. It is important to meet the dietary needs of a growing world population. These needs are also influenced by the development of new functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, there is also a demand for oils that have a positive impact on human health and whose production is environmentally friendly. Numerous studies have shed light on the chemical composition of oils and their interest in preventing cardiovascular diseases or reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. The present Special Issue aims to explore a large panel of potential new plant sources (including algae) with edible oil or with a specific fatty acid composition, new extraction methods and processes, agricultural production and its impact on the environment, and effects on human health. This Special Issue deals with the description of new sources (non-domesticated plants, forgotten species and cultivars, species not used thus far for their oil, etc.) of oil for their content of major and minor lipids of interest for human health, the screening of old plant resources or the development of new cultivars, the modification of lipid biosynthesis pathways, the transformation processes of raw materials, and cultivation according to a sustainable agriculture mode.

Dr. Othmane Merah
Guest Editor

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• screening of plant germplasms
• neglected or non-domesticated species for oil production
• new cultivar breeding
• genetic control of lipids
• lipid biosynthesis pathway
• lipid metabolism in plants and algae
• genetic transformation
• agricultural practices
• algae
• industrial processing of by-products
• oil extraction and processing
• chemical analyses of oils
• economic and societal acceptability