Climate change enables oat cultivation in Northern Europe

Climate change is opening new horizons for agriculture in the northern regions of Europe. What once seemed impossible is now becoming reality — growing oats under Arctic conditions.

Researchers from five northern countries are testing 400 oat varieties within the international OatFrontiers project to adapt the crop to Arctic environments. The goal is to determine which varieties are best suited to the emerging climatic conditions of the North.

“We want to see how oats respond to extreme environments — cold, snow, wind, rain, and drought. Our mission is to adapt the crop to this new climatic frontier,” explains Grannar Smári Hilmarsson, head of OatFrontiers in Iceland.

The project originated at the Agricultural University of Iceland. Researcher Helga Rún Jóhannesdóttir studies yield and seed properties in the laboratory: “Oats are a very resilient crop. Even under poor conditions, they can deliver impressive results,” she notes.

The practical aspect of the study is confirmed by farmer Örn Karlsson from southern Iceland, who grows oats for human consumption without using chemical crop protection products.

“To grow well, oats need at least 110 days with temperatures above 10°C. Yields are lower than in warmer countries, but the produce is organic. We’re currently working with a Swedish variety, but we expect even better ones in the future — that’s the main goal of the project,” says Karlsson.

The project’s budget totals €1.6 million, with 60% financed by the EU Cohesion Policy and the remainder provided by private and public partners. Ten organizations from five countries are participating.

Researchers aim to determine whether it is possible to develop a universal oat variety suitable for the entire North, or if each region will require its own.

The final results of OatFrontiers are expected to be published by the end of 2026.

Tags: oats