Strengthening WA’s oat classification system

This project seeks to develop a comprehensive classification system for the WA oat industry, including:

establishing independent oat quality testing capability for the improved evaluation of different breeding lines;
developing classification testing methodologies for end-product quality evaluation; and
identifying key quality traits and targets to support the development of improved oat varieties (e.g., better understanding how test weight, kernel weight, plumpness, and thin oats are related and their importance for processing and end-product quality).

Completed (March 2024)

We submitted our annual progress report to POP which reported on capital expenditures, and method review for oat quality traits tailored to milling oats for porridge and market visit.

We are continuously identifying, reviewing, and purchasing equipment for oat processing, as well as refining methods for assessing grain and product quality.
We will conduct market surveys for key potential markets to identify important traits for oat classification, focusing on grain quality, functionality, and product performance.