ABSTRACT
This chapter is an introduction to the subject matter covered in both parts of the book. It gives an overall perspective of technology practices adopted worldwide for vegetable oil extraction. Historical practices are also discussed, which should help gain an insight into the course of changes in technology over the decades and centuries. A discussion of vegetable oil production in the world, with mention of major producing countries for each oil, gives an idea of the relative importance of each oil-bearing material, and an idea of the size of the industry.
