Healthier oat option set to also offer farming benefits
Looking for a healthier breakfast option? New Bilby oats — developed in SA — could be for you.
SA Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A new healthier oat variety called Bilby is expected be bouncing onto supermarket shelves in the next two years.
Launched at the Royal Adelaide Show today, the new variety is expected to be a “game-changer” for the state’s farmers.
The variety was developed in South Australia by SARDI researchers.
Seed will be available for farmers to sow for the 2020 growing season.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said the Bilby oat is expected to be a popular variety with farmers.
“Farmers are constantly looking for opportunities to grow crops which not only have significant health benefits but provide higher yields and better quality and the new Bilby oat ticks those boxes,” he said.
“The good news for consumers is that Bilby offers high beta-glucan, which has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol.
“The game-changing new oat variety is expected to be hitting supermarket shelves in 2021.
“The potential grain yield of Bilby crops, and the higher ratio of the edible part of the grain means higher milling yield, which is positive for processors.
“The new variety has been developed through the National Oat Breeding Program which has produced oat varieties found in many popular porridge and muesli products as well as oat varieties that are exported to Asia as high-quality hay.”
Uncle Tobys senior research and development manager John Pitcher said his company is looking forward to trialling the new oat variety.
“For more than 20 years Uncle Tobys has worked closely with SARDI, through the National Oat Breeding program, to deliver oats that are not only good for our consumers in terms of taste and nutrition, but also good for our farmers and sustainability,” said Mr Pitcher.
“We are delighted that the new Bilby oat delivers not only increased beta-glucan to help lower cholesterol levels, but also enhances paddock yields for farmers.”
Grains Research and Development Corporation acting general manager — business development and economics Ron Osmond said oats are an important component of farming systems in Australia, providing growers with profitable grain and hay options in their cropping rotations.
“The nutritional benefits of milling oats are well recognised and we expect consumer demand for this functional food product will continue to increase,” Dr Osmond said.