Exploring the Camelina sativa value chain: a new opportunity for bio-based products and overall crop sustainability.

Camelina sativa L. Crantz (Camelina) is an oilseed crop, useful for both industrial and healthy food applications. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family and, nowadays, its popularity is growing. The chemical features of Camelina feedstock (seeds, defatted seed meals, and straws) were discussed in terms of yields of bioactive molecules per-hectare in open field trials laid out in Northern and Central Italy. Chemical and phytochemical features, such as oil fatty acid profile, defatted seed meal polyphenol, flavonol, glucosinolate and protein content and antioxidant activities, were examined pointing out the Camelina products potential applications in food, as well as in the pharma sector. At the same time, the valorisation of residual lignocellulosic biomass was discussed. Detailed glucosinolate and fatty acid profiles evidenced slight differences in the two trials, as well as total phenol and flavonoid contents. Fibre chemical compositions indicate that, in Central Italy, Camelina straws were characterised by a higher content of cellulose and hemicellulose and a lower amount of lignin in comparison to Northern Italy, while no differences were found in the ash contents. All together, these data open new perspectives for the valorisation of Camelina in a sustainable green chemistry approach based on the real yields of bioactive molecules and the exploitation of whole biomass.