Mascani winter oats wins the Niab Variety Cup

Mascani, bred by IBERS - Aberystwyth and marketed by Senova Ltd in the UK, is highly favoured by the milling industry. 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, with a UK certified seed market share high of 77% in 2021. 

Niab Chief Executive Professor Mario Caccamo presented the much coveted industry award to Senova’s Alison Barrow and IBERS’s Dr Catherine Howarth at the 2025 Cereals Event in Lincolnshire. 

The Niab Variety Cup acknowledges crop varieties that have significantly improved agricultural productivity, demonstrating excellence in quality, disease resistance, grower profitability, or commercial success and can be drawn from the entire spectrum of horticultural, ornamental and agricultural crops. 

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. It’s 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), said, “As a research team, we are incredibly proud to accept the Niab Variety Cup for Mascani. 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.”

Senova’s Alison Barrow highlighted that, after 21 years on the AHDB Recommended List, the variety continues to stand the test of time and remains the top-selling winter oat variety, with over 70% of the UK winter oat market. 

The Niab Variety Cup is presented to Alison Barrow, Senova, and Catherine Howarth, IBERS, by Niab's Clare Leaman and Mario Caccamo.

“We’re delighted with the recognition of Mascani’s status and reputation within the marketplace by Niab. Mascani’s success can be attributed to its combination of superior grain quality and performance in the mill, along with its reliability in the field and suitability for sustainable rotations. Appealing to both end users and farmers alike, the variety has spearheaded the increase in UK-wide oat plantings and boosted development work into alternative oat markets, as the health and nutritional benefits of oats have been recognised. As a result, we now see oats being eaten at different times of day to just the traditional breakfast occasion.”

Professor Mario Caccamo remarked on the importance of the award, stating, “It takes an exceptional variety to win the Niab Variety Cup, or its sister Cereals Cup, with candidates reviewed annually by our crop specialists and agronomists. This year, we had several strong contenders for the Variety Cup, and it is incredibly rewarding to acknowledge Mascani’s long-standing contribution to the industry. Its success exemplifies the impact that superior crop varieties can have on productivity and grower returns.

“As Mascani’s legacy continues to inspire innovation in crop breeding, Niab reaffirms its commitment to recognising and fostering excellence in agriculture. The Niab Variety Cup remains a symbol of achievement and dedication, inspiring breeders to push the boundaries of plant breeding,” said Professor Caccamo.