Oats

Innovative new oat food products beyond breakfast

Traditionally, oats have mainly been used for oatmeal porridge, breakfast cereals and snacks.

As awareness of the health benefits of oats grows, there is an increasing appetite to increase the use of oats in a wider range of products, including lunch and dinner-style foods.

The Australian oats industry invests in a range of projects to increase the value of Australian oats for both growers in Australia and customers in international markets.

AEGIC developed innovative processing technology for Asian-style noodles made from 100% whole grain oats, as well as an oat ‘rice’ product that can be cooked and eaten like regular white rice. Australian company My Plantco-Real Oats is now developing products using AEGIC’s technology to bring to consumers.

AEGIC is also investigating a range of other innovative oat products and ingredients, including semolina products such as couscous and halwa, and beta-glucan-rich fractions as healthy thickeners for sauces, dressings, and as a fortifier for Asian-style bread and bubble tea pearls.

These products will make it much easier for consumers to make the switch to healthier whole grain oat options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

AEGIC’s research has received investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the Western Australian State Government, and the Processed Oats Partnership (POP).

Health benefits of Australian oats

The growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as obesity and heart disease is a major cause for concern for governments and health authorities around the world.

Studies have shown that consuming oats can:

• lower cholesterol
• help control blood sugar
• assist with managing obesity
• reduce the risk of heart disease
• have anti-cancerous effects
• promote gut health
• reduce inflammation

Oat consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Beta-glucan in oats reduces overall cholesterol levels by removing LDL or ‘bad cholesterol’ from our bodies.

Consuming 3 grams of beta-glucans daily, which is roughly 75 grams or two-thirds of a cup of oats, can lower blood and LDL cholesterol levels.

Oats’ high fibre content also helps lower the risk of high blood pressure, reducing the strain on the heart and arteries.

The Australian oat industry is committed to increasing the awareness of the health benefits of Australian oats in Asian markets. AEGIC regularly engages with customers in key markets to communicate the benefits of Australian whole grains, including oats. Consuming Australian oats is an excellent way to improve health outcomes in Asian markets and around the world. Supplementing traditional foods like wheat noodles and white rice with whole grain oat products makes this an easy and attractive option for consumers.

Nutrition credentials of whole grain oats

Source: GLNC

• High in carbohydrates (mainly starch).
• The protein content is higher than other cereals, at around 14%.
• High in soluble dietary fibre, specifically beta-glucan found mainly in the aleurone and subaleurone layers.
• The fat content is the highest of all grains (7-8%), with fat contained in the endosperm and the germ. The fat is mostly unsaturated.
• The starchy endosperm of the oat grain contains more fat and protein than other cereal grain.
• High in potassium and low in sodium.
• Contains B-group vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), folate and pantothenic acid.
• Contains vitamin E.
• Contains iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium (depending on the soil content of selenium).
• Contains small amounts of copper, manganese and calcium.
• Contains phytochemicals including lignans, phenolic acids (such as ferrulic and caffeic acids), phytic acid, plant sterols and saponins.

Australian oat production

Australian oats are grown in southwest Western Australia, the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas of South Australia, western and north-eastern Victoria, and the Riverina and central New South Wales. On average, Australia produces about 1.5mmt of oats across 890,000 hectares. On average, 5-10% of the world’s oat supply is produced by Australia. *

Australian oat growers operate in one of the cleanest environments in the world, using state of the art farming techniques to produce clean, dry, food-safe oats that meet customer requirements.

Western Australia is by far the largest oat producing state, followed by New South Wales and Victoria.

Australian oat exports

Australian oats have an excellent reputation in Asian markets and around the world. China is Australia’s largest market for oats, with other markets including Mexico, Japan and India.

On average, Australia exports around 400,000 tonnes * of oats (processed and raw) worth over $200 million. *

* Data is obtained from multiple third party sources. Due care is taken to verify the information, however it is acknowledged that some data may be incomplete due to commercial confidentiality relating to grain trading, or other restrictions.

Australian oats: quality assured from farm to customer

The Australian oats industry is dedicated to assuring the highest level of quality for customers of Australian oats.

The National Oat Breeding Program conducts the breeding and development of new oat varieties with superior quality in Australia. This program is delivered by InterGrain, with co-investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Western Australian State Government. 

Oat varieties are developed to meet the requirements of international consumers. Varieties released with a milling classification must have a high hectolitre weight with low screenings, high groat percentage and milling yield, a good level of beta-glucan, and superior taste and aroma.

Grain Trade Australia and the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia define standards for the segregation of oats grown by farmers based on their quality.

Grains Australia manages classification, market access, market insights and market education on behalf of the Australian oats industry.

Australian oats industry: investing for the future 

The Australian oats industry is committed to growing the value of Australian oats for both Australian growers and international consumers.

The Processed Oat Partnership (POP) is an industry-led program, supported by the Western Australian State Government and led by the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA), which will provide a foundation for growth in the oat industry over the next 20 years through research, market insights, and innovation in oat breeding and product development.

The Oat Grain Quality Consortium (OGQC) is a collaborative Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment aimed at addressing the crucial need for innovation in oat quality research, informing oat quality classification and market positioning.

These programs complement each other to support the development of the Australian oat industry. AEGIC is a key collaborator across each of the programs, providing market insights and innovation expertise.

AEGIC is delivering three projects with investment from the Processed Oats Partnership:

• Novel innovation in oat processing and new product development
• Strengthening the WA oat classification system
• An economic lens to capture oat market value through industry innovation and better-targeted industry investment