Cooking Oils & Fats

Introduction

This group of foods are oils that have been refined for oxidative stability and high smoke points ⁷. Unlike “finishing oils,” these are the workhorses of the kitchen, designed to withstand temperatures above 200°C without breaking down into harmful polar compounds ^7,9. They provide a neutral delivery system for fats and Vitamin E while protecting the integrity of the food being cooked ^1,8.

Biological ‘Brewing’ of an Ideal Cooking Oil¹³

It will soon be possible to create an ideal cooking oil, which uses virtually no land to produce and has an ideal mix of 80% Omega 9 oils and 20% of the most healthy form of Omega 3 Oils (DHA) ¹³.

The proposed 80/20 hybrid oil represents a structural leap in vegan nutrition, combining the culinary stability of Omega-9 with the cellular requirements of long-chain Omega-3s ^3,6,13. Traditionally, humans have relied on either high-heat cooking fats (like rapeseed) that lack active DHA, or delicate supplemental oils (like fish or algal oil) that cannot survive the heat of a pan without oxidising and becoming toxic ⁹. By using precision bio-reactors, we can “programme” the fat ratio to ensure the oil remains neutral and stable during a sear while delivering the brain-building nutrients usually lost to heat ^10,13. ¹

Compared to traditionally grown rapeseed, which sits in UK soil for months during a single growing cycle, the stacked bio-reactor system operates on a 365-day harvest loop ^12,13. This continuous growth, powered by specific LED “light recipes” and climate control, allows for a nutrient yield per hectare that is hundreds of times higher than field-based agriculture ¹³. Furthermore, moving oil production indoors effectively “frees” the vast acreage currently used for industrial rapeseed, allowing for the immediate rewilding of the British landscape ¹².

Cheap as Chips!

Achieving price parity between this ideal 80/20 oil and traditional rapeseed oil in the UK is a long-term goal, projected to reach “everyday price” status by 2035–2040 ¹⁸.

While rapeseed oil remains a staple commodity ^14,15, rising production costs from pests and climate volatility could increase its price ¹⁷. The transition relies on scaling precision fermentation to reduce algal oil costs, with projected advancements potentially increasing yields by 2.5x ^13,16.

Culinary Oil Efficiency

Oil Type ^2,3,4	PANY Score	Land Use Score	Water Use Score	Extra Info
80/20 Hybrid Oil (80% Omega-9 / 20% DHA)	97/100	1/100 (Ultra-Low) ¹³	5/100 (Recycled) ¹³	Metabolic Super-Oil: Uses Omega-9 as a “thermal shield” to deliver stable DHA directly to the brain ¹³.
Bio-Reactor Algal Oil (Standard Culinary)	94/100	1/100 (Ultra-Low) ¹³	5/100 (Recycled) ¹³	High-Heat Hero: World-leading smoke point of 535°F; neutral buttery profile.
Traditional Rapeseed Oil (Standard UK Field)	42/100	88/100 (High Use) ¹²	65/100 (Seasonal) ⁴	Land Intensive: Requires vast horizontal acreage and sits dormant for 6–8 months of the year.

Potential Annual Nutrient Yield (PANY) Justification

80/20 Hybrid Oil: 97/100 – Near-perfect score due to the unique combination of heart-healthy Omega-9 and 365-day vertical DHA production with zero ocean impact.
Algal Oil: 94/100 – Exceptional score for providing pure, non-toxic monounsaturated fats at hundreds of times the yield of a horizontal hectare.
Rapeseed Oil: 42/100 – Moderate score; while healthy, it suffers a heavy “temporal penalty” because it can only be harvested once per year and lacks pre-formed DHA. ²

Nutrition & Ethics

The Unity Score below measures how effectively a culinary fat can be produced using open-source, decentralised technology—such as 8-storey vertical farms or subterranean bio-reactors—to ensure every global citizen has local access to essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins ^1,7,8.

A high score indicates that the oil can be “brewed” or grown in urban centres using precision fermentation or aeroponic rows, removing the “environmental footprint” of trans-oceanic shipping and allowing for the rewilding of traditional agricultural land ^1,6,7. Fats with lower Unity Scores are “Byproduct or Legacy Priorities” that, while technically excellent, rely on the circular use of existing agricultural waste (like grape seeds) or traditional crops to reach peak nutritional merit ⁶.

1. The Cooking Oils & Fats League Table

Strictly sorted by Potential Annual Nutrient Yield (PANY) and Molecular Stability.

Rank	Culinary Fat	PANY Score	Best for	Vegan Nutritional Superpower
1	80/20 Hybrid Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Brain & Heart	Stable DHA/EPA & Omega-9 Synergy ⁵
2	High-Oleic Sunflower	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ²	Professional Frying ⁹	Elite Alpha-Tocopherol (Vit E) ⁴
3	Rice Bran Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ²	High-Heat Searing ⁹	Rare Gamma-Oryzanol & Tocotrienols ¹²
4	Refined Rapeseed	⭐⭐⭐⭐½ ²	Everyday Cooking ⁹	Balanced Monos & Vitamin K1 ^2,4
5	Grapeseed Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐ ²	Non-Greasy Finish ⁹	Circular Proanthocyanidins ¹²
6	Coconut Fat	⭐⭐⭐ ²	Ketone Energy ¹¹	Saturated MCTs (C8/C10) ^8,11

2. Global Unity & Rewilding Suitability Table

Sorted by suitability for decentralised growth and land-clearing speed.

Rank	Culinary Fat	Unity Score	Rewilding Impact	Why?
1	80/20 Hybrid Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁸	Extreme ⁷	Bio-reactor Production; 365-day brewing ⁸
2	Refined Rapeseed	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁶	Extreme ⁶	Vertical Production; 6-row aeroponic stacking ⁶
3	High-Oleic Sunflower	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁶	Extreme ⁶	Vertical Production; dwarf hybrid stacking ³
4	Rice Bran Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁶	High	Circular Production; zero-land byproduct
5	Grapeseed Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁶	High	Circular Production; zero-land byproduct
6	Coconut Fat	⭐⭐⭐ ⁸	Very High ⁷	Bio-reactor Production; replaces tropical palms ⁸

3. Stability & Lipid Composition Cheat Sheet

Technical metrics for land-use velocity. Sorted by PANY (Nutrient Yield per 365 days).

Culinary Fat	Primary Source	Smoke Point	Primary Phytochemicals	Traditional Land Use	Vertical Land Use (PANY)
80/20 Hybrid Oil	Microalgae/Yeast	~230°C	DHA/EPA ⁵	⭐ (Marine/Field mix)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (97)
Rice Bran Oil	Cereal Bran	232°C ⁹	Gamma-Oryzanol ¹²	⭐ (Circular waste)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (58)
Grapeseed Oil	Winery Seeds	216°C ⁹	Proanthocyanidins ¹²	⭐ (Circular waste)	⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (54)
High-Oleic Sunflower	Hybrid Seed	232°C ⁹	Alpha-Tocopherol ⁴	⭐⭐⭐ (Space heavy)	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (48)
Refined Rapeseed	Brassica Seed	204°C ⁹	Brassicasterol ¹²	⭐⭐⭐ (Season limit)	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (42)
Coconut Fat	Tropical Palm	232°C ⁹	Lauric Acid ⁸	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Deforestation)	⭐⭐⭐ (38)

Rewilding Insight

Refined Rapeseed is a Traditional Stalwart (⭐⭐⭐) because it is rain-fed and locally grown in the UK. However, it is a Vertical Workhorse (PANY 42) that allows 47 hectares of traditional field land to be rewilded for every 1 hectare of vertical building used ⁶.
80/20 Hybrid Oil is a Traditional Impossible (⭐) as the technology to blend stable cooking fats with marine Omega-3s does not exist in standard agriculture. Yet, it is the Vertical King (PANY 97) because its production in continuous bio-reactors removes the “nutrient debt” of the fishing industry, which ‘steals’ nutrients from marine species, while providing the most land-efficient lipid on Earth ⁸.

The Future of Fats

Is the ‘ideal’ 80% Omega 9/20% Omega 3 (DHA/EPA) cooking oil all we’ll need in the future?

The 80/20 Hybrid Oil is arguably the healthiest all-purpose choice for the global human population, but it is unlikely it would replace every other fat because human nutrition and technical cooking require different molecular structures. While it is the “Vertical King” for daily use, other bio-created fats remain desirable for specific health and culinary goals ^1,8.

1.1 The Daily Driver: Why 80/20 Wins

Nutritional Insurance: It provides long-chain DHA/EPA fats that the body cannot easily make from plants, ensuring brain health is built into every meal ⁵.
Oxidative Shield: The 80% monounsaturated (Omega-9) base is the most stable fat for high-heat cooking, preventing the formation of toxic chemicals when the pan gets hot ^8,10.
Neutrality: Because it is “brewed” in a clean bio-reactor, it has no strong smell or taste, allowing it to act as a perfect carrier for the flavours of other foods ⁸.

1.2 Desirable Bio-Created Alternatives

Even with a “perfect” oil, the following fermented fats would still be essential for a complete rewilding food strategy ¹:

Bio-Solid Fats (MCT Pastry Fats):
- Reason: Liquid oils cannot create the “flaky” layers needed for pastry or the solid structure required for baking.
- Solution: Precision fermentation can “brew” specific saturated fats like Lauric acid that stay solid at room temperature ^8,11.
- Benefit: This allows for traditional baking without the environmental footprint of tropical coconut or palm oil ⁷.
High-Polyphenol “Finishing” Oils:
- Reason: Highly stable cooking oils are often refined, which removes the bitter plant chemicals that act as internal antioxidants.
- Solution: Bio-reactors can be tuned to produce oils rich in Hydroxytyrosol (from olives) or Gamma-Oryzanol (from rice bran) ¹².
- Benefit: These oils act as a “metabolic guard” for the heart and blood vessels ¹².
High-Stearic Technical Fats:
- Reason: For extreme searing or deep-frying, a fat with an ultra-high smoke point is needed to ensure zero trans-fat formation.
- Solution: Yeast can be programmed to produce Stearic acid, a fat that is exceptionally resistant to heat damage ⁸.

1.3 The 3 Fat Strategy

The healthiest and most land-efficient strategy is not a single oil, but a cabinet of three bio-created fats ¹:

The 80/20 Hybrid: Used for 90% of cooking to ensure daily brain and heart health.
The Bio-Solid: Used for baking and providing the “mouthfeel” of traditional dairy fats ^8,11.
The Phytochemical Shield: Used as a raw finishing oil to provide a massive boost of antioxidants ¹².

This approach ensures that by 2035, the UK could entirely replace field-grown oils with “brewed” fats, allowing for total rewilding while improving public health ⁸.

1. The Precision Lipid League Table

Strictly sorted by Potential Annual Nutrient Yield (PANY) and Molecular Stability.

Rank	Culinary Fat	PANY Score	Best for	Vegan Nutritional Superpower
1	80/20 Hybrid Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Daily Cooking	Stable DHA/EPA & Omega-9 Synergy ⁵
2	Bio-Solid MCT Fat	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Baking/Pastry	Structured Lauric & Capric Acids ¹⁰
3	Phytochemical Shield	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Finishing Oil	Concentrated Polyphenols & Sterols ¹²

2. Global Unity & Rewilding Suitability Table

Sorted by suitability for decentralised growth and land-clearing speed.

Rank	Culinary Fat	Unity Score	Rewilding Impact	Why?
1	80/20 Hybrid Oil	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁸	Extreme ⁷	Bio-reactor Production; 365-day brewing ⁸
2	Bio-Solid MCT Fat	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁸	Extreme ⁷	Bio-reactor Production; replaces tropical palms ⁸
3	Phytochemical Shield	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⁸	Extreme ⁷	Bio-reactor Production; high-density nutrients ⁸

3. Stability & Lipid Composition Cheat Sheet

Technical metrics for land-use velocity. Sorted by PANY (Nutrient Yield per 365 days).

Culinary Fat	Primary Source	Smoke Point	Primary Phytochemicals	Traditional Land Use	Vertical Land Use (PANY)
80/20 Hybrid Oil	Microalgae/Yeast	~230°C	DHA/EPA ⁵	⭐ (Marine/Field mix)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (97)
Bio-Solid MCT Fat	Fermented Yeast	232°C ⁹	Caprylic Acid ¹⁰	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Deforestation)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (95)
Phytochemical Shield	Algal Extract	<180°C	Hydroxytyrosol ¹²	⭐⭐⭐ (Olive groves)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92)

Sources & Endnotes (Introduction Section) – please see the References & Bibliography section for full details of all sources:

Google AI internal knowledge.
ScienceDirect – Alternative to fish and vegetable oils.
NHS England – Requirements for heart and brain health.
Water Footprint Network – Global water footprints of oilseeds.
ScienceDirect – Microalgae vs oil crops environmental impact.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Omega-3 Fact Sheets.
ScienceDirect – Stability of algal oil in deep frying.
British Nutrition Foundation – Monounsaturated fats and health.
ScienceDirect – Encapsulation and oxidation of algae oil.
Nutrients – Bioavailability of algal EPA and DHA.
Coeliac UK – Gluten-free status of lipids.
Our World in Data – Environmental impact of oilseeds vs cellular agriculture.
Frontiers in Bioengineering – Precision fermentation and land-efficiency multipliers.
UkrAgroConsult – Black Sea Vegoils Market.
Sainsbury’s – KTC Rapeseed Oil 1L Price Data.
Farmers Weekly – Analysis of oilseed rape production costs and market values.
ProCam UK – Agronomy reports on cabbage stem flea beetle impact on UK rapeseed.
MarkNtel Advisors – Precision Fermentation Market Outlook 2032.

Sources & Endnotes (Nutrition & Ethics Section)– please see the References & Bibliography section for full details of all sources:

Google AI – Internal knowledge and technical synthesis.
USDA FoodData Central – Analytical profiles for lipids.
NASA – Aeroponic cultivation of high-yield oilseeds.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Vitamin E and K Fact Sheets.
Nutrients (Algal) – Bioavailability of algal EPA and DHA.
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems – Land-multiplier effect and rewilding.
Our World in Data – Environmental impact of vegetable oils.
Frontiers in Bioengineering – Precision fermentation, bioreactors, and lipid synthesis.
Culinary Institute of America – Smoke points and cooking stability.
Molecules Journal – Oxidative stability of saturated fats.
Bioscience Reports – MCT metabolism and ketone production.
Nutrients (Bioactives) – Minor bioactive components, polyphenols, and sterols.

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