Camellia farm in Jiangxi Province, China
Wang Xiang/Xinhua/Alamy
Modelling studies have shown that partially replacing existing vegetable oil crops with camellia could increase edible oil production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use and pesticide use.
Camellia is a productive shrub that can thrive in places where other oil crops struggle to thrive. The properties of camellia oil, also known as tea seed oil, make it a possible healthier oil, but it is little known and little used outside of China today.
