The winter oat variety Mascani has been awarded the 2025 Niab Variety Cup in recognition of its longevity and commercial success, it was announced at Cereals.

Now in its 21st year on the AHDB Recommended List, Mascani was acknowledged for its quality and consistency, as well as its central role in the development of products based on milled oats.

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The first oat variety to receive this accolade, Mascani has dominated the winter oat market since its commercial launch in 2004 and remains the top-selling winter oat variety, with more than 70% of the UK winter oat market

The Niab Variety Cup acknowledges exceptional varieties and can be drawn from the entire spectrum of horticultural, ornamental and agricultural crops.

It is only presented in years when a variety is considered to have had a major impact, with the last award being made in 2023.

Welsh breeder

Mascani was bred by the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Ibers) at Aberystwyth University, and is marketed by Senova, with representatives from both companies joining Niab’s chief executive, Professor Mario Caccamo, for the presentation.  

According to Niab cereal specialist Clare Leaman, the variety’s dominance can be attributed to its exceptional quality characteristics, which continue to meet the exacting requirements of millers.

“Despite the emergence of newer oat varieties with higher yields, Mascani’s relevance has been maintained due to its quality and reliability,” she said.

Healthy food

Appealing to both end users and farmers alike, Mascani’s success has also coincided with the recognition of the health and nutritional benefits of oats – including their cholesterol-lowering properties.

“As a result, we now see oats being eaten at different times of day to just the traditional breakfast occasion,” says Hugh Harley, sales manager at Senova.

“You only have to walk into a supermarket to appreciate the vast array of products that use milled oats, from health and convenience foods to free-from choices and dairy substitutes.”

For millers, Mascani’s high kernel content and good specific weight are matched by low screenings, while in the field its strong disease resistance and good standing ability have made it a low-input variety.

Brin Hughes, agronomy manager at miller Richardsons, said Mascani’s consistency had made it the best milling oat variety in England.

“It mills very well, so we’re delighted to see it get this award and hope that it will continue to maintain its robustness, both in the field and the mill,” he said.

“We continue to assess newcomers and are always interested in variety developments, but Mascani sets a high bar.”