The sunflower is cultivated primarily for its seeds, which yield one of the world’s most important sources of edible oil. Sunflower oil is considered a premium oil because of its light color, high level of unsaturated fatty acids, bland flavor, high oxidative stability and high smoke point. The oil is used for cooking, margarine and salad dressings, but also for baby formula, lubrication, bio-fuel, hydraulic fluids, soaps, illumination and certain types of paints, varnishes and plastics.
