Khameleon

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) – an oilseed crop valued for its high fat content in seeds (about 41%) and a rich profile of unsaturated fatty acids: linoleic – 80%, oleic – 10%. Seeds contain up to 12% protein, making them suitable for feed purposes. Plant height is 68–75 cm, and the vegetation period is 107 days.

Safflower oil is widely used as a food product: it is suitable for frying, salad dressing, and margarine production due to its taste similar to sunflower oil. Additionally, the oil has quick skin absorption, softening, and moisturizing effects, making it a popular ingredient in creams and ointments for external use.

Safflower is also valuable as raw material for industry: natural yellow dye is obtained from petals, used in the food and cosmetic industries; protein additive for animal feed is obtained from pomace. The crop is drought-resistant and can be grown on various soils provided the planting scheme is followed: interrows 45–70 cm, distance between seeds 4–5 cm. Thanks to these properties, safflower can occupy significant areas in agriculture, meeting the growing demand for oilseed crops and their derivatives.