Research and Development

Research and development is and has always been in focus for Swedish Oat Fiber. For more than 25 years, we have been dedicated to the development of innovative oat products along with active research projects. In these we have mainly focused on proving the health benefits of oat beta glucans and in recent years we are also engaged in projects about protein, antioxidants and polar lipids.

With our own R&D department, we monitor whatever happens in the world concerning oats. This work begins in the Nordic oat fields, looking for the best premises and quality in order to deliver the optimal ingredients for our customers around the world. Our work over the years has resulted in numerous published clinical studies and this vast amount of information, combined with persistency and hard work, has led to achieving a number of approved health claims. The majority of these claims comes from  studies where products of Swedish Oat Fiber has been used. More than 40 peer-reviewed publications are showing results where our products have been tested. A list of these is avaiable on demand.

To keep updated and lead development in oat science, we cooperate and work with a distinguished network of scientists and university experts all over the world. Swedish Oat Fiber is currently playing a key role in organizing the new Scandinavian Oat Centre, a centre of excellence where oat science will lead to the development of new global products with well-documented properties.

We are also participating in EU research projects with more than 40 partners, and playing a role in the development of an internationally recognized method which mimic human digestion. The purpose is to characterize oat soluble fibers in the gut and link its properties to published clinical results in human subjects. Other oat components are also the topic of R&D projects, such as lipids, proteins and antioxidants. Oat oil contains special polar lipids, so-called galactolipids, with unique properties and many interesting applications. These properties are studied in a project together with the RISE Institute in Gothenburg and Stockholm during the spring of 2017.

Other important ongoing studies are targeting weight management and satiety which are very strong trends for the consumer market. Being overweight also increases the risk of developing stomach problems, high cholesterol or diabetes. If we can increase consumers' satiety with our products, they will eat less and thus we can help reduce risks such as cholesterol and diabetes, also known as the Metabolic Syndrome.

Furthermore, a very important part of our strenghts is the everyday focus on innovation and flexibility: product development is always present in our minds and in our everyday activities from raw materials to completely new concepts. Having this mindset and involving our entire team in these projects is both motivating and efficient for everyone, which is an important ingredient in our success. 

For our customers, this in-house expertise of R&D means that all available new research and findings are at their disposal. We are happy to take an active partnership in developing new ideas and projects, using our oat products as well as together with partners.

Ongoing EU projects with the active participation of swedish oat fiber

fibebiotics

http://www.fibebiotics.eu: 
The goal is to study the bioactive (health) function of polysaccharides and generate knowledge that support health claims. The project is looking primarily on effect on non-digestible polysaccaharides on gut and immune functions, and on tools and models that will help to design tomorrow’s functional foods.

Article: http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/immune-health-research-and-fibebiotics-project-5-9650

PATHWAY-27

http://pathway27.eu:
The project sets out to tackle the diverse scientific understanding of the role and mechanisms of bioactive compounds in influencing human health. The project addresses their real and practical use in everyday diets, moving beyond the theoretical status typically derived from research.

Former EU projects where Swedish oat fiber has been A PARTICIPANT

TailorLiquid

Looking at the effects of oat lipids as surfactant

BioProFibre

Developing a range of cholesterol-lowering foods and demonstrate their effect on humans in a clinical study.
In this study, Swedish Oat Fiber participated through its former subsidiary CreaNutrition.