Commercial partners being sought for new Australian oat product

Australian oat noodles and oat ‘rice’ are set to become pantry staples, once new manufacturing processes developed by the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) are matched with the right commercial partners.

AEGIC is looking for food brands, manufacturers or investors who can fast-track getting the new plant-based products to market, and help move oats beyond the breakfast table to becoming an option for lunch, dinner and snacks.

Developed from Australian oats, which are high in beta glucan, the new products can provide good nutritional benefits.

AEGIC’s oat rice is said to have twice as much dietary fibre than other white and brown rices, fewer carbohydrates, more protein, and a greater concentration of healthy unsaturated fatty acids.

The 100% whole grain oat noodles are produced without additives and AEGIC’s hydrothermal treatment is designed to ensure the shelf life is the same as traditional wheat noodles.

AEGIC oat processing.

AEGIC Chief Executive Officer Richard Simonaitis said access to AEGIC’s oat product intellectual property would give industry partners a rare opportunity to launch first-to-market Australian-origin export products.

“The oat rice prototype has received excellent reviews from preliminary tasting panels with Australian and international participants,” Simonaitis said.

AEGIC oat rice servings.

AEGIC said its completion of the early development work has reduced the costs and risk level for food manufacturers or brand owners. This includes proving production viability using existing manufacturing equipment under laboratory conditions and with in-house testing to show how the process can be readily scaled.

The organisation has also identified how existing packaging methods can be easily adapted for cooking the new products conveniently, and tested different cooking methods to simplify and encourage consumer adoption.

AEGIC has a lodgement platform to collect and review expressions of interest from potential commercial partners. The lodgement process is open until AEDT 23:59 hrs 30 August 2021. More information about the opportunity is provided on the lodgement platform.

Top image credit: AEGIC oat noodles.