Oat-based snack foods and baked goods are in high demand, but recent crop shortages have manufacturers scrambling to find a secure supply of this popular grain. Caused in part by rising temperatures and drought conditions, the oat shortage has also been compounded by grasshopper infestations, fire, and decisions by growers to plant fewer oats in favor of higher-earning crops. The result is that oat crop yields in the U.S. have fallen by 40% and Canada is faring even worse.
Faced with fierce competition, manufacturers of gluten-free oat brands will need to get creative to locate an adequate supply of oats and safely deliver products to consumers who require a gluten-free diet.