Transport engineering as a strategy to realize rapeseed's potential as a protein-rich food

Rapeseed is the world's second-largest oilseed crop, and the low-value press cake that remains after oil extraction contains 30-40% protein with an excellent amino acid composition; however, it is unexploited as food owing to its content of anti-nutritional glucosinolates. The potential of rapeseed press cake as source of plant-based protein for human consumption faces a food and a farming challenge. We suggest using molecular breeding based on transport engineering of glucosinolate transporters to prevent the accumulation of glucosinolates, specifically in the seed, as a strategy that can enable the raw, unprocessed rapeseed press cake to be used as food (and improved feed), and potentially also improve the crop's inherent pest and disease resistance. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.