COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT

Center for Crop Diversification Crop Profile

Chia
Cheryl Kaiser1 and Matt Ernst2
Introduction
Chia (Salvia hispanica) is an annual plant in the
mint family that is grown commercially for its
seeds, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Chia seeds also provide an excellent source of
soluble fiber and antioxidants. Until recently,
chia seed production was only feasible in tropical
and subtropical latitudes due to the long growing
season required to complete seed development.
While chia plants grow well in temperate
climates, they require short days to flower and
are normally killed by frost before seeds mature.
Chia plants in bloom (left) and seed (right)
Researchers at the University of Kentucky (UK)
have been engaged in groundbreaking chia Market Outlook
breeding research. This has resulted in patented Chia is one of the highest sources of omega-3 fatty
varieties of long day length flowering lines of chia acids known. Currently with the high demand
capable of producing seed in the Commonwealth for chia relative to supply, chia seed and seed
and the Midwest. After several years of research products (such as oil) have a much higher value
and field trials, chia is emerging as a viable than canola, soy, or flax. Human consumption of
commercial crop for Kentucky growers. omega-3 has been linked to many health benefits,
including a lower risk of heart disease, cancer,
Marketing and possibly stroke, as well as improved brain
UK’s new early summer lines of chia have been functions. The health foods and nutraceutical
licensed to Heartland Chia, a producer-owned industries are currently marketing raw chia seeds
company in Franklin, Kentucky. Heartland Chia’s as a dietary supplement, as well as incorporating
goal is “to provide a new crop opportunity for U.S. the seeds into snack foods, drink mixes, and
farmers while benefiting consumers, food and cereals; milled chia is sold for use as flour. The
feed companies with a reliable, local, traceable global market for nutraceuticals is continuing to
supply of chia.”1 Heartland Chia grow due to an aging population,
provides growers with non-GMO interest from a broader spectrum of
seed and production advice to grow consumers in functional foods that
chia, then markets the chia they include ingredients like omega-3
produce. fatty acids, and increasing interest

1
Cheryl Kaiser is a former Extension Associate with the Center for Crop Diversification.
2
Matt Ernst is an independent contractor with the Department of Agricultural Economics.
Agriculture & Natural Resources • Family & Consumer Sciences • 4-H/Youth Development • Community & Economic Development
and use in preventative medicine. This market
is expected to grow based on current nutritional
trends. Increasing awareness of the health
benefits of omega-3 foods has fueled an industry
that is currently unable to meet the high demand.
Chia is also used in pet and livestock feeds.

Chia is a good candidate for organic production,

an added benefit in selling to the health food
market. Currently there is little difference between
the price returns of conventionally produced chia
and organic chia because of the high demand Chia planting.
and low supply. However, as supply increases,
Cultural requirements, such as plant spacing and
organic chia should bring higher price premiums.
nutritional needs, are still being refined. Chia has
a lifecycle similar to soybeans, and is harvested
Production Considerations early enough that it is possible to double-crop
Crop description
chia after winter wheat.
Chia is an herbaceous plant with opposite,
serrated leaves approximately 1½ to 3 inches long
Pest management
and 1 to 2 inches wide. Also known as “lime-leaf
Neither insects nor diseases have posed a problem
sage,” plants reach a height of a little more than 3
in Kentucky to date. Weed management is most
feet at maturity. High planting density can result
critical during establishment; however, weeds
in 5- to 6-foot-tall plants. Height also depends
become less of an issue once the canopy closes.
on planting date and day length. Clusters of blue
Despite the fact that chia is an aggressive crop,
to purple to white flowers develop on spikes
researchers are not concerned that it could become
forming at the end of each branch. Seeds are oval
and approximately 2 mm (0.08 inches) long and invasive or present a problem for subsequently
1 mm (0.04 inches) wide (similar in size to red planted crops; most commonly used herbicides
clover or alfalfa seed). The shiny seed coat varies tested against chia have succeeded in killing it,
in color from cream to charcoal gray with darker and mowing or light tillage can be effective in
irregular markings or specks. Brown seeds result controlling any volunteers in subsequent years.
from immature chia being harvested, or early
frost before complete crop maturity. Harvest and storage
Chia is mechanically harvested with a standard
Site selection and planting combine, using small screens similar to those
Chia is a low-maintenance crop that prefers used with other small seed crops (clovers, alfalfa,
moderately fertile, well-drained soils. While timothy). Unlike other grains that may be stored
moisture is necessary for seedling establishment, on-farm immediately following harvest, chia is
this crop is highly intolerant of wet soils. Seeds expected to go directly to the processor/cleaning
are planted into a fully tilled seed bed using a plant after harvest, once it is dry of excess
standard grain drill or planter with small seed moisture.
metering capability; some adjustments to this
equipment may be necessary. Because of the Labor requirements
small seed size, precision planting is important Labor needs are approximately 2 to 4 hours per
to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Chia is acre for production and harvest. Some additional
planted in May or June and harvested in October time may be needed in early stages of production
in Kentucky. for proper drill (planting) setup.
Economic Considerations
Initial investments are similar to row crop
production, including land preparation and
purchase of seed. Production costs for chia are
estimated to be less than per acre production
costs for soybeans, with harvest and marketing
costs similar to those costs for soybeans. The
UK Department of Agricultural Economics has Chia seed size compared to a dime.
projected no-till soybean variable costs in 2016 • Extending the range of an ancient crop, Salvia
as approximately $420 per acre, with fixed costs hispanica L. — a new ω3 source (University of
adding about $50 per acre. Variable expenses per Kentucky, 2011)
acre for chia are expected to be less than soybeans. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Agronomy/PLBC/
Returns to land, capital and management for Research/pubs/Jamboonsri-12.pdf
chia are projected to be higher than returns for • Heartland Chia http://heartlandchia.com/;
soybeans grown on the same land. ckummer@heartlandchia.com
• Improvement of New Oil Crops for Kentucky
1
From the Heartland Chia website, http://www.
(University of Kentucky doctoral dissertation by
heartlandchia.com/non-gmo-us-grown-chia-seeds
Watchareewan Jamboonsri, 2010)
http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/120/
Selected Resources • Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association
On the Internet http://www.kysmallgrains.org/
• Chia — A Possible New Crop for Kentucky?
In Tobacco Tech (Kentucky Tobacco Research In print
and Development Center, 2010) 4.26 MB file • Chia: Rediscovering a Forgotten Crop of the
http://www.ca.uky.edu/KTRDC/T.T. Aug 2010. Aztecs. Ricardo Ayerza and Wayne Coates.
pdf 2005. University of Arizona Press: Tuscan. 197
pp.

Reviewed by Tim Phillips, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky

Photos by Tim Phillips (bloom, pg. 1 & planting, pg. 2) and Anthony Clark (seed, pg. 1), University of
Kentucky; and Maelor Davies, Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center (seed, pg. 3)
February 2016
For additional information, contact your local County Extension agent
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