The Origin, History, and Production of Oat

The processes that influenced the domestication and eventual cultivation of oat are inextricably woven into the history of the domestication and cultivation of the various Hordeum and Triticum spp. that were the primary cereal domesticates of Neolithic agriculturalists in the Near East. The world production of oat has been trending downward due to the emphasis being placed on competitive crops that produce greater amounts of energy or protein, especially in warmer environments such as the Corn Belt of the USA. World consumption of oat is concentrated in the major producing countries. The USA and the United Kingdom are leading consumers of rolled oat. Food consumption of oat in the USA was projected to be 23% of total disappearance in 1988. Oat is less likely to be traded than other grains because of its light weight and bulky characteristics that make transport costs unduly high.