Cultivation

Today, oat, originally a grain of the temperate climate region of the north, is cultivated worldwide. Leading cultivating countries are Russia, Canada, USA, Poland, Finland and Australia. In 2005, 24,6 million tons oats were cultivated on approximately 11,8 million hectares of land.

Utilisation

Due to the high content of protein, lecithin, vitamins and minerals, oats count as one of the grains with the most nutritional value. The iron content is similarly high to that in fish. 

Oats are processed into

• grain nutriments, especially oatmeal

• feed grain for horses, cattle, and poultry

Gene technology: aims in research and development

Agronomic traits

Disease resistance

• Viral resistance

Field trials with GM Oats