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Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health

Diversity Oats - A more sustainable Norwegian oat industry by increased genetic diversity and diversified food products

Photo: Erling Fløistad
Active Last updated: 04.06.2026
End: dec 2027
Start: jan 2024

Diversity Oats main objective is to generate the knowledge and tools needed to support a more sustainable and profitable Norwegian oat industry with increased genetic diversity and diversified food products.

External project link Official project website (in Norwegian)
Start - end date 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027
Project manager Morten Lillemo - NMBU
Project manager at Nibio Ingerd Skow Hofgaard
Division Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health
Department Fungal Plant Pathology in Forestry, Agriculture and Horticulture

This will be achieved through the following secondary objectives:

  1. Broadening the genetic base for future oat breeding by incorporation of new genetic diversity
  2. Unraveling the genetic basis of nutritional and grain composition traits and developing tools and technologies for more effective oat breeding
  3. Development of new functional oat ingredients and tailored food processing strategies for the production of diversified Norwegian oat products.
  4. Increased understanding of the influence of fertilization practice and weather conditions on plant health and grain quality
  5. Dissemination of project results through interaction with the whole value chain to achieve the overall aims of the project.

NIBIO is involved in Work Package 4.

To increase self-sufficiency of food-grade quality oats in Norway, optimal strategies for improving yield, quality, and profitability are needed. In WP 4 NIBIO will identify fertilization practices for improved plant health and grain quality of oats. In addition, NIBIO will examine if selected grain quality parameters of oats can be predicted by use of local weather data.