Small Scale Safflower Oil Plant in Malawi

What is safflower seed oil used for?
For the last fifty years or so, [citation needed] the plant has been cultivated mainly for the vegetable oil extracted from its seeds. Safflower seed oil is flavorless and colorless. It is used mainly in cosmetics and as a cooking oil, in salad dressing, and for the production of margarine. [citation needed]
What is safflower oil made from?
That familiar bottle of safflower oil you likely have in your kitchen is made using seeds from the safflower plant, which is a member of the sunflower family. The safflower’s flowers look like thistles and help protect its seeds — which are used to make oil — until they mature, per Purdue University’s Alternative Field Crops Manual.
What is a safflower plant used for?
Flowers of Carthamus tinctorius ( safflower) are the source of red and yellow dyes, and the seeds produce an oil used in cooking and in the production of soap, paint, and varnish. Several other members of the order, including Cynara scolymus ( artichoke) and Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke), are of lesser importance as food plants.
Why are safflower seeds important?
Safflower seeds are especially important because they are used to make safflower oil, a common cooking oil. Monounsaturated safflower oil, which is most common, is useful for frying or baking. The less-common polyunsaturated safflower oil should not be heated and works well in salad dressings.