Western Canada Leads in Low-Carbon Oat Production

New study confirms Canadian prairie oat growers as global leader in sustainable oat farming

The Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) is proud to celebrate the release of new research from the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, which confirms what many Canadian farmers already know: Western Canada is leading the world in low-emission, sustainable oat production.

The comparative carbon footprint study, released July 7 by GIFS, analyzed oat and barley production across Canada and internationally, and found that Saskatchewan and Western Canadian farmers produce oats with the lowest carbon intensity relative to other jurisdictions in the study.

“This study validates the efforts our farmers have been making for decades,” said Ambrely Ralph, POGA Co-President. “From reduced tillage and diverse rotations to precision fertilizer use and continued innovation, our growers are showing the world what sustainable agriculture really looks like. This is a major win for Canadian oats on the global stage.”

The study’s carbon life cycle analysis followed globally recognized standards (ISO 14044 and ISO 14067), and the findings are consistent with previous research on crops such as wheat, canola, peas, and lentils. One of the key differentiators in the Western Canadian production system is the integration of regenerative practices that both reduce emissions and increase soil carbon sequestration.

“Canadian oat growers are not only producing a healthy, in-demand food product hey’re doing it with an environmental footprint that’s second to none,” Ralph added. “This kind ofdata gives us a more information to use when talking to potential international customers and when working with Governments around the world, including right here in Canada.