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Palm oil is widely used in the food industry because of its lower cost, high oxidative stability index, long shelf-life, and a reasonable replacement of trans fats. However, increased palm oil production reduces biodiversity, damages the ecosystem, and poses health risks to humans. Unsustainable development of palm plantations has caused deforestation and loss of natural habitat, rendering many species (Sumatran orangutans, elephants, and tigers) critically endangered. Similarly, decomposition and burning of carbon-rich soil in vast and deep peatlands is increasing carbon emissions. Furthermore, excessive consumption of palmitic acid (and other saturated fats except stearic acid) increases bad cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we need healthier, stable, and solid/semisolid oils at room temperature with longer shelf-life and without trans fats. Here, we review the advancements in the development of sunflower oil varieties containing high stearic (∼18%) and high oleic (∼70%) acids which makes them healthy and sustainable alternatives to palm oil. First, the high-stearic-high-oleic sunflower crops can have grain and oil yield as high as 4036 and 1685 kg/ha and oleic and stearic acid yield up to ∼73 and ∼21%. Second, high-stearic-high-oleic oils obtained from mutant and hybrid sunflower cultivars have higher oxidative stability index and therefore have better stability, quality, and functionality than regular sunflower oil. For example, the oxidative stability index of commercially available Nutrisun at 110°C is six times greater than that of regular sunflower oil. Finally, recent advances have made several mutant and hybrid cultivars with high grain and oil yield and high levels of stearic and oleic acids available. Given this progress, natural healthy high-stearic-high-oleic sunflower oil can now be grown in both the hemispheres in a sustainable manner with the currently available advanced technology and without damaging the ecosystem as is currently happening with palm oil cultivation.

-Dehulling sunflower seeds can increase meal protein content by up to 35-36%. However, high variability in seed quality constitutes an obstacle to optimizing the dehulling process. This study has sought to identify the parameters that influence the protein content of sunflower seeds and the ease with which they can be dehulled. Genetic, climatic and crop management effects were studied using seed samples taken from farmers' fields in south-west France. Soil and climatic effects were revealed to be important for protein content and ease of dehulling (hullability). Some cultivars were found to be significantly more difficult to dehull than others. No relationship was observed between oil content and protein content expressed as a proportion of DDM (defatted dry matter), but there was a significant negative linear relationship between hullability and oil content. Due to the wide range of locations and agricultural practices encountered in the farmers' fields, it was not possible to verify with confidence the influence of other interactions such as nitrogen fertilization and the potential fertility of the fields. This work nevertheless showed that locality and growing conditions affect the quality of sunflower seeds. This variability in quality could be measured by crushers in order to optimize the dehulling process and thereby produce a meal of consistent quality, with a guaranteed protein content. Keywords:Sunflower / seed quality / dehulling / protein / hullability / meal Résumé -Impact des conditions pédoclimatiques et des pratiques agricoles sur la qualité des graines de tournesol en relation avec le procédé de décorticage. Impact des conditions pédoclimatiques et agricoles sur les caractéristiques des graines de tournesol en relation avec le procédé de décorticage. Le décorticage des graines de tournesol peut augmenter la teneur en protéines dans le tourteau jusqu'à 35-36% sur matière brute, mais la grande variabilité de la qualité des graines est un problème pour optimiser le processus industriel. Le but de cette étude était d'observer les paramètres influençant la teneur en protéines et l'aptitude au décorticage des graines de tournesol. Nous avons étudié les effets génétiques, climatiques, et de gestion des cultures avec des échantillons provenant d'une enquête dans des parcelles d'agriculteurs dans le Sud-Ouest de la France. Le pédoclimat avait un important effet sur la teneur en protéines et l'aptitude au décorticage. Certains cultivars étaient beaucoup plus difficiles à décortiquer. Aucune relation n'a été observée entre la teneur en protéines exprimée sur MSD (matière sèche déshuilée) et la teneur en huile, mais une relation négative significative existe entre l'aptitude au décorticage et la teneur en huile. Les autres interactions n'ont pas pu être clairement démontrées (fertilisation azotée, potentiel de rendement des parcelles) à cause de la grande diversité des situations et des pratiques agricoles. Ce travail a montré que l'origine des lots pourrait affecter la qualité des graines de tourn...

The endogenous levels of several plant growth substances (indole acetic acid, IAA; abscisic acid, ABA; zeatin, Z; zeatin