Conference hears about ‘exciting opportunities’ for oat production

Flahavan’s Organic Oat Grower of the Year Award 2026 was presented this week to Angus Woods from Co. Wicklow.

The award, which recognises his commitment to producing high-quality organic oats, was presented at Flahavan’s annual Organic Oat Growers Conference held at the Dunamaise Theatre, Portlaoise this week (October 20).

The award acknowledged the dedication and expertise of Irish growers, particularly following a challenging 2026 harvest.

Meanwhile, new research into oat varieties, advances in crop management and opportunities for greater collaboration across Irish agriculture were among the key themes at the conference.

The event brought together organic oat growers, farmers considering conversion, researchers, agricultural advisers, government representatives and industry stakeholders to explore how innovation, investment and cooperation can support a commercially resilient Irish tillage sector.

Flahavan’s, which has experienced a five-fold increase in demand for its organic oats since 2010, driven particularly by export growth in the UK, used the occasion to encourage discussion on opportunities extending beyond organic oats to the wider tillage and agricultural sectors.

Head of operations at Flahavan’s, Johnny Flahavan presenting the Organic Oat Grower of the Year 2026 award to Angus Woods from Co. Wicklow

Head of operations at Flahavan’s, Johnny Flahavan said: “Our growers are central to the success of our organic oat business, but many of the challenges and opportunities we face are shared right across Irish tillage and agriculture.

“We see real value in bringing farmers, researchers, advisers and industry together to share knowledge and practical innovation.

“Whether that’s improving crop performance, developing more effective weed management techniques or identifying new markets, there is a wider opportunity for Irish agriculture to benefit from this work.”

Research and innovation

Research into oat varieties featured prominently, with Dr. Cathal McCabe of University College Dublin (UCD) outlining advances through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)-funded HOPE project and EU INTERREG-funded HealthyOat project.

Dr. McCabe said: “Through the DAFM-funded HOPE project and the EU INTERREG-funded HealthyOat project, we have identified a diverse range of oat varieties with the potential to offer benefits for human health while reducing environmental impact.

“This research points to exciting opportunities for the future of oat production.”

Practical innovation in crop management was another major theme, with Martin Bourke, organic tillage specialist with Teagasc, sharing findings from the Organic Tillage & Vegetables European Innovation Partnership (OTV EIP) project.

The project is evaluating more effective approaches to mechanical weed control, alongside opportunities for precision technologies, machinery sharing and improved crop establishment.

Martin Bourke said: “As part of the Organic Tillage & Vegetables EIP project, our spring oat trials show the real potential of combining blind weeding with a carefully timed post-emergence pass.

“By tackling weeds early, when they are small and vulnerable, we were able to make the follow-up harrowing much less aggressive while achieving more than 90% weed removal.

“It’s an encouraging result for organic growers, demonstrating how the timing and combination of mechanical weed control operations can help improve weed management and support more sustainable oat production.”

Developing markets and connections

The conference also explored the importance of developing reliable commercial outlets for the range of crops grown within organic tillage rotations, as well as opportunities to strengthen connections between tillage and livestock farming.

One potential area discussed was the development of dedicated organic feed milling capacity in Ireland, which could provide additional markets for domestically grown cereals.

At the same time, it could