SOCIALIZING NATURE - TECHNOSCIENCE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF RAPESEED INTO CANOLA

While the constructedness of manufactured products is obvious, plants and animals retain their naturalness even as they are transformed. Yet, there is little doubt that the transformation of plants is a powerful method by which we socialize nature such that it better suits our purposes. This paper examines the transformation of rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. and B. napus L.) from a minor crop used largely for marine lubricants into a major global competitor in edible oil markets. This transformation was brought about in part by the elimination of two components defined as potentially toxic, erucic acid and glucosinolates, as well as by changes in the location of production and processing techniques, and by the suitability of the crop for planting and harvesting by equipment designed for wheat. Of particular note is the role of the Canadian State in providing the large-scale financing necessary for the research to transform the commodity from a specialty crop into a bulk commodity.