Today, it’s with great pride and a few butterflies that we’re officially introducing the new Oatbox. After seven years of obsessing over oats, our company is about to go even further: we want to explore their full potential with oat-based food that is good for you and for the planet.
Better for You and Better for the Planet
Over the last year, we’ve been asking ourselves: what if tasting good isn’t good enough? The planet needs us to find smarter ways to eat, and we realized that part of the solution was right under our noses: oats.
Guided by this idea, our team came to the conclusion that we had to move from a breakfast company to one that innovates by exploring the full potential of oats. A company ready to welcome the future of food, where what you eat doesn’t just taste good – it does good.
If oats have the potential to change everything, clearly, we had to change too. A new brand identity, improved recipes, new suppliers, organic and plant-based ingredients, sustainable and recyclable packaging… We heard you! Our community has nourished our new business model and products as we’ve embarked on a quest to do better.
Unlocking Individual and Collective Potential
Our entire approach is based on our strong belief in the full potential of oats, both collectively and individually.
On the one hand, growing oats presents a lower risk of polluting surrounding waterways as it requires less nitrogen.1 Oats are also a pretty competitive cereal as they block the sunlight to herbs growing at the base of the plant, and reduce the amount of herbicides used, as well as their harmful effect on the environment. 2
Oats are also considered ‘green manure’ because they can be used to improve the quality of the soil. By trapping nitrate in the ground, oats prevent it from contaminating groundwater. Plus, oats can use the stored nitrate to grow, which lowers the amount of fertilizer needed to mature.3
Organic farming, which we adopted a long time ago, increases the soil’s ability to store carbon4, preserves the health of watersheds, helps reduce GHG emissions, increases soil organic matter content, and doesn’t affect the health of pollinators when compared to conventional farming.5
Once in your bowl of oatmeal, oats are a great source of fibres!6 The consumption of beta-glucan oat fibre can reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels, which makes oats a great addition to any balanced diet. 7
Our granola and bars hold the individual and collective potential of oats. And you know what? The best is yet to come, because innovation will help us reach the full potential of our beloved crop. Among these advances is the promise of a responsible and nutritious alternative to dairy products.
Welcoming the Future of Food Together
It goes without saying that the very idea of contributing to a more sustainable diet resonates with our team. Our new brand identity and commitments will allow us to present the full potential of an ingredient that we’ve been obsessed with for over seven years now! That’s why the entire Oatbox family is involved and truly wants to be part of the solution for a better world.
This vision for the future inspires us. You can ask any member of the team, we all have the feeling of taking part in something bigger than ourselves. We sincerely believe that our actions can make a difference and that our new commitments are just the beginning of an adventure that will take us even further. We’re ready to raise the bar, and today, we’d love for you to come along for the ride!
Canadian. Organic. Plant-based. Discover the new Oatbox today.
Sources:
1. Lafond, G. P. ; May, W. E. ; Holzapfel, C. B. “Row spacing and Nitrogen fertilizer effect on no-till oat production”. Agronomy J., [Online] 2013.
2. DAFWA. “Weeds and integrated weed management for oats”. Dept. Agric. Food. Government of Western Australia, 2006.
3. Destain, J.-P. ; Reuter V. ; Goffart, J.-P., “Les cultures intermédiaires pièges à nitrate (CIPAN) et engrais verts : protection de l'environnement et intérêt agronomique”, BASE [Online], Volume 14 (2010), Numéro spécial 1, 73-78.
4. Réseau Action Climat France. “Stockage du carbone dans les sols et réchauffement climatique”. [Online].
5. Équiterre. “Réduire la dépendance à l’égard des pesticides synthétiques : favoriser une agriculture plus résiliente au moyen d’une approche transitionnelle”, [Online], 2017.
6. Harvard T. H. Chan, School of Public Health. “Oats | The Nutrition Source”. [Online]
7. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. “Food Labeling: Health Claims; Soluble Fiber From Certain Foods and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease”.