AEGIC’s oat noodles and oat ‘rice’ are destined for supermarket shelves, with a Western Australian-based company set to begin producing the innovative foods.

Oat scientists at the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) developed manufacturing processes for 100 per cent wholegrain noodles and a ‘rice’ product that can be eaten like regular rice. Made from Australian oats, which are high in beta-glucan, the products offer superior nutritional benefits.

AEGIC has partnered with WA-based company My PlantCo to take the products to market and help move oats beyond the breakfast table to becoming an option for lunch, dinner and snacks.

My PlantCo will use the innovative oat processing methods and ‘know-how’ developed by AEGIC to produce healthy, high-quality oat products under its Real Oats subsidiary. The products will be manufactured in WA for domestic consumers, as well as export markets.

Samples of oat noodle and oat rice products. Photo: AEGIC

AEGIC executive general manager Courtney Draper said awareness of the compelling health benefits of oats was growing in Australia and across the world.

“Convenient and delicious products like oat noodles and oat rice are great for consumers because they make it so much easier to incorporate healthy wholegrain oats into their diets,” Ms Draper said.

“This is a great development for growers and the WA oats industry because it will help to capture a greater share of growing international demand for oat products.”

Ms Draper said this was a great example of AEGIC using research and innovation to translate market insights into tangible outcomes for industry.

“This started when our analysis identified strong growth in demand for Australian oats,” she said. “To capitalise on the opportunity, we invested in a dedicated oats laboratory to create innovative, value-added oat foods. A few years down the track, it’s fantastic to see the research come to fruition.”

AEGIC’s research was supported by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). AEGIC’s research into new oat products will continue under a new project, with further investment from the WA Government under the Processed Oats Partnership (POP).

AEGIC is an initiative of the Western Australian State Government and Grains Australia.

More information: Courtney Draper, courtney.draper@aegic.org.au