Niab has awarded its 2025 Variety Cup to the winter oat Mascani, honouring the variety’s longevity, dominance and success over 21 years in the UK marketplace.
Bred by IBERS – Aberystwyth and marketed by Senova Ltd in the UK, it was first added to the AHDB Recommended List in 2004 and has accounted for over 50% of the winter oat area in the past 12 years, helped by its popularity with millers.
Clare Leaman, Niab’s cereal specialist, said: “Despite the emergence of newer oat varieties boasting improved yield and agronomic traits, Mascani has maintained its dominance in the industry due to its exceptional quality characteristics, which continue to meet the exacting standards of millers. Its success is testament to the unique dynamics of UK oat breeding programmes, which often lead to varieties with remarkable longevity. Mascani’s sustained relevance highlights its unmatched quality and reliability, even in a competitive landscape, making it a prime contender for the Niab Variety Cup.”
Dr Catherine Howarth, oat breeding and research lead at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), added: “It’s a huge honour for all those who have been involved in the development of the variety – from the original cross in 1995 and subsequent years of selection to its release onto the market as a game changing variety. Its superb quality, yield and excellent milling consistency has made Mascani a favourite across the UK for growers, merchants and millers alike.”
