Vegetable oil production is very important to the economy. Many products originate from vegetable oils. Products like plastics, paint, lubricants, medicine, all kind of soaps or fuel additves. Soy oil and palm oil are by far the most important oil crops in the world. There are some concerns about the ecology effects of both palm and soy oil. That is why we concentrate on some alternatives. Some of them can grow on the so called "marginal lands". These lands are not suitable for food production without heavy use of fertilizers and irrigation.

Examples of a low input crop are Camelina Sativa for cooler regions. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) also grows in cooler regions but needs more care. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is not considered to be a low input crop but still is considered beneficial to the environment for its oil biodegradability and good ecotoxicity performance. The use of ferilizer releases NOx, making intensive rapeseed cultivation contribute to global warming (Grutzen, 2007), despite being carbon neutral.

True sustainable and ecological cultivation is only possible with perennial oil crops in combination with intercropping. Perennial oil crops develop a deep and wide root structure which will reach the ground water level and thus making them very drought resistant. Seedlings always have to be protected against drought by, for example, irrigation. Soil erosion is more likely to happen with annual crops as they are developing a more superficial root system.

The use of fertilizers and pesticides can be reduced by using intercropping. A nitrogen fixing tree, for example, makes it possible for other crops to share this nitrogen as a natural fertilizer. Some trees like the Neem tree are also producing natural compounds to fight insects and diseases to the benefit of other crops nearby. Another big advantage trees have is their ability to absorb large quantities of CO₂ for their growth. It is estimated that the amount of CO₂ sequestered in a given tree is about 25 Kg per year.

For semi-dessert like areas the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is an interesting crop to consider. The Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is very benificial for tropical regions. Castor oil has very unique properties making it a high value oil.

A good alternative for Jatropha Curcas is the Pongamia Pinnata. It grows in the same climate regions and can be harvested mechanically.

The world consumption of oil is growing steadily. On one side there is demand from the oleochemistry industry. On the other side there is a growing population with higher incomes in countries like China and India increasing the demand for more healthy oils like Camelina and Rapeseed.