SHARING OPTIONS: The establishment of an all-island oats forum is good news for the future development of the crop and its potential. \ Donal O'Leary A new Oats Ireland Forum is to be established for the island of Ireland to help steer research priorities for the years ahead. The crop, which once occupied around 900,000ha on the island, has dwindled to 25,000ha, but an increasing proportion of the crop is now subject to market premium. Unlike other cereals, there has been very little active research on oats in recent decades, but the crop is now strongly established as an equine feed and gluten-free oats is adding to its importance in the human food market. But the crop has much more potential, and so the research community is now establishing a forum to help share knowledge and identify future research needs. The forum, which is being managed by Teagasc and AFBI, aims to bring together a range of stakeholders to identify specific research needs and support policymakers.