The federal minister of Agriculture has announced an investment of up to 106 thousand dollars to the Prairie Oat Growers Association.

The funds will go to new research trials to better understand the role oats play in disease prevention.

Findings are expected to help create new market opportunities for Canadian oat producers.

The research involves the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre in Winnipeg.

The centre will conduct animal feeding trials with oats.

The goal is to determine how oat protein is digested and the effect on reducing cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

The data is expected early next year and is part of a process needed to make a health claim that oat protein can positively affect cholesterol and blood glucose.

Oats is already recognized as a health food because of soluble fibre content.

Oats has gone from a bulk export 30 years ago to today, largely selling value-added products and ingredients.

A new health claim could help further diversify market opportunities and stimulate demand.

Canada is the largest exporter of oats in the world, with shipments valued at 465 million dollars in 2020.

The 3 prairie provinces account for more than 90 percent of Canada’s oat production.
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