THE RENAISSANCE of the Australian oat industry continues, with news of another major research investment into the food crop.
After years where the low value stock feed market dominated oat sales, burgeoning interest from health conscious consumers is seeing research into the cereal crop rising as the industry looks to expand human consumption market opportunities.
Last week the La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food (LIAF), a part of La Trobe University signed a partnership with food manufacturing giant PepsiCo to conduct work into oat quality.
PepsiCo is involved in the oat industry through its Quaker Oats brand, the oldest registered brand name for a breakfast cereal in the world.
The LIAF / PepsiCo project is valued at $2.3 million and is looking to improve the nutritional quality of oat-based food products.
Director of LIAF Tony Bacic said oats had an excellent nutritional profile that could see consumption rise as consumers look to make healthier choices.
"Oat grains are one of our richest sources of soluble dietary fibre, which is known to be essential for human gut health and heart health," Professor Bacic said.
"A lack of sufficient soluble fibre - watersoluble cell-wall polysaccharides, otherwise known as beta-glucans - in our diets is a major contributor to a number of food-related, non-communicable diseases.
"Our program with PepsiCo aims to understand oat grain development and the factors that contribute to the quantity and quality of the beta-glucans produced in oat grains."
The research project is one of several major initiatives emerging from LIAF which, with industry partners, is developing new and innovative opportunities to transform the scope, scale and
translation of the Australian agri-food research and innovation sector.
"Our collaboration with PepsiCo is a great example of how LIAF partnerships can significantly impact both the agri-food and health sectors," Prof Bacic said.
LIAF was formed from a proposed $50 million co-investment, with La Trobe matching funds with external partners including industry - with the mission to support basic and translational research and training in the agri-food sector.