A Yorkshire farmer who has produced plant oils so pure that they are being used in the oil fields of Qatar wants 400 farmers to join him.

Clifford Spencer's company, Springdale Farms, based in Rudstone, near Driffield, is recognised as a world leader in the development and growth of novel non-food crops.

It is pioneering the growing of crambe (Abyssinian mustard), which yields an oil used in products from plastics to cosmetics and high-grade replacements for traditional mineral oils.

Croda Oils, which is based in Hull, has signed an agreement to purchase the first two year's harvest.

Now Springdale Farms is using a £292,500 Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from Defra to help find more than 400 farmers to grow the crop.

The company is using part of the grant to put together a team of six specialists who will recruit farmers and advise them on growing and managing crambe.

A second crop, hemp, which can be processed for fibres as well as oil is also being piloted.

Mr Spencer, managing director, said: "We want to preserve the wealth of knowledge and skills that farmers have, but provide them with a viable future.

"They will not have to invest in new technology or equipment. Farmers can sign up to grow the crop with the assurance that we have an end user and an agreed price, so despite this being a form of diversification, any farmer who agrees to work with us will know exactly what the return will be."

The remainder of the grant will be used to convert redundant farm buildings into a conference and education centre where all sides of the industry - growers, seed developers, research scientists and industry - can meet.

They will also be able to see Springdale's processing facilities where oils are pressed and stored prior to collection.

The UK's temperate climate is perfect for such crops, providing a more consistent crop than hotter countries.

Among crambe's advantages are that it can be planted as late as May, can be used in rotation, is relatively low-input and will not cross-pollinate other crops.

In addition to keeping farmers on the land, the scheme has the potential to boost rural employment.

"The technology required to process oil crops is relatively simple and I would like to see farmer's working in partnership to develop local processing plants," said Mr Spencer.

"When you begin to move into crops like hemp, where the plant fibre can be processed and woven into insulation or fabric, local processing offers real opportunities to boost local employment.

"Other countries have recognised that these are the crops of the future. We've had to source the hemp insulation for our buildings from Germany. The demand is there, now we have to find the farmers to meet it."