The first New Zealand homegrown oat milk is now available in supermarkets nationwide.
The announcement of Otis Oat Milk’s new supply deal inked with Countdown coincides with the company’s launch of its 1% Fund, an initiative by Otis to help diversify farming by supporting NZ farmers to grow oats.
The deal will see Otis cartons lining shelves around the country in Countdown, New World, Farro and Moore Wilson.
Otis co-founder Chris Wilkie says the company wants to help NZ farmers lead the way for the 21st century in a way of farming that’s more diverse, more plant-based and one that works in harmony with nature, not against it.
“No surprises, but we think the mighty oat holds many of the answers,” Wilkie said.
“That’s why we are dedicating 1% of our total sales to fund projects and initiatives that make oats a viable and exciting farming alternative.”
Founded by Wilkie and Tim Ryan in 2018, Otis oat milk has a strong underlying philosophy to lead a plant-based revolution.
“We are on a mission and our revolution will have farmers and people at its heart, to help the world change from intensive dairy farming to environmentally-friendly alternatives,” Ryan said.
He says oat milk is the perfect milk for the future, with research globally showing oat milk’s footprint is much lighter.
Producing one litre of oat milk requires 11 times less land and 13 times less water than producing one litre of dairy milk.
He says that one litre of oat milk also emits three-and-a-half times fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its dairy equivalent.
While “very much” at the beginning of their journey with the 1% Fund, the pair plan to connect with researchers, thought leaders and farmers to find out what the barriers are to growing oats, what scientific work could contribute to the project and where farmers may need the most support.
Funds will be collected and research undertaken over the coming year.
“By gaining a deeper understanding of the opportunities, by September 2022 we aim to channel the first year’s funds in the direction of the biggest impact, whilst ensuring it’s delivered in a way that sees both our rural communities and environment thrive,” Ryan said.
While intensive dairy is big business in NZ, Wilkie says Kiwis need to be courageous and start diversifying what they put in their supermarket trolley.
“It (dairy) is depleting our nation’s soil, is a large contributor to our nation’s emissions, and pollutes our waterways,” he said.
“Oats on the other hand, suck carbon from the air, pull nitrogen from the soil and use hardly any water, plus they don’t burp, fart or urinate.
“We think these are compelling reasons to start diversifying our agriculture and for there to be more investment in dairy alternatives.”
Otis Oat Milk has a creamy yet neutral taste and dairy-like consistency and is free from dairy, soy, nuts and is vegan-friendly.
“Oats are a wonder food,” Wilkie said.
“We know Kiwis are increasingly looking for clean products that are not only good for the planet, but good for their bodies and tasty to boot.”
Otis works with the NZ oat growers’ group and 70 arable farmers who operate a crop rotation system.
“A farmer may typically rotate from grazing pasture to oats for an autumn harvest, followed by barley and peas and then to a ryegrass seed crop or vegetable and back to pasture,” he said.
“This healthy cyclic farm management provides the soil with constant variants while each crop performs a different duty.”
Ryan says the oats act as a natural catch crop for excess nitrogen that might be in the soil, preventing any run-off entering waterways.
The Otis range is available in one litre cartons, and includes an everyday milk, perfect for on muesli, in smoothies, in a cuppa or on its own.
The barista milk pairs with any coffee bean roast profile, producing the perfect flat white, with a velvety smooth finish.
Otis Everyday oat milk 1l sells at $5.50 and Otis Barista oat milk 1l, $6.00.
