a process for producing fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives from oleaginous plants . this process is characterized in that transgenic oleaginous plants are produced having on the one hand at least one gene coding for a lipase enzyme , the so - called lipase gene , and on the other hand , associated with this lipase gene , a promoter permitting an expression of the gene either in compartments different from the lipid accumulation compartments , or by exogenous induction . the seeds or fruits containing the plant lipids are collected , the seeds or fruits are crushed , if necessary after induction treatment , so as to bring the lipids and lipase into contact , the whole mixture is incubated in order to effect an enzymatic hydrolysis of the lipids , and the fatty acids or derivatives thereof are extracted .