Sioma® Hybrid Oil – Characteristic and Applications

Sioma® hybrid oil is a unique vegetable oil produced as a result of extensive research undertaken by the Danec Ecuador agricultural-industrial group (Grupo Grasco). This agricultural innovation was developed based on a non-transgenic crossing, using E. guineensis oil palm pollen on E. oleifera mother palms. As a result, a new non-genetically modified oil palm variety was developed. This va- riety is more resistant to diseases such as bud rot (BR) and has higher oil yield per area as compared to E.guineensis oil palms. Most of the oil produced by this variety is unsaturated and its oleic acid content is 10 to 15% higher than that of commercial palmoil. In addition, this oil has a higher con- tent of betacarotene (pro-vitamin A) and natural antioxidants, such as tocotrienols and tocopherols (vitamin E). This is the reason why this palm oil has its own denomination: Sioma®.