A compliment for a great-tasting bowl of porridge, made from southern oats, may soon be “That’s some fine Gardyne”. Plant Research New Zealand has renamed.
Growing numbers come to learn more about oats
9 Feb, 2021 09:00 PM
2 minutes to read
Otago Daily Times
The oat-farming field is growing in Southland.
Farmer Graeme Gardyne held a field day his East Chatton Road property near Gore on Thursday.
People toured his fields to get a first-hand look at how the oat crops, which included experimental breeds, were growing.
Speakers included Plant Research breeder Adrian Russell, Harraways Oats representatives, Great South and oat milk industry representatives.
Advertisement
Last year, the turnout was about 70, and a decade ago it would have been about 40. There were more potential growers there yesterday, normally they d be people that were already growing oats.
Hugo Cameron
Key players in the oat industry want to capitalise on increasing demand, with the country s first plant-based milk factory on the horizon.
Artist impression of New Zealand Functional Foods plant-based milk factory.
Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Functional Foods
The Oat Industry Group, comprised of growers, processors and retailers, met near Gore today to talk about opportunities for the future of the grain.
Southland s economic development agency thought there was potential for plant-based beverages in the region and formed a company, New Zealand Functional Foods, to commercialise production.
Functional Foods chair Roger Carruthers said once it had secured enough investment, construction on a high-tech plant in Invercargill would get underway.