The Canadian oat industry has its eyes set on China.

Market Analyst Randy Strychar, president of oatinformation.com, says demand for oats in China is growing, due to the changing middle class economy.

However, he notes there is a problem getting oats into the country.

"The biggest problem we're having right now getting oats into the Chinese market is the protocol is not in place for us to put oats in there," commented Strychar. "We can put seed oats in there but we can't put oats for human consumption. When that's going to get done, I don't know, they've been working on it for 24 months. The Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) did send a delegation over there this summer and it is now on the agenda."

He says the younger generation in China is changing its diet, adding more breakfast cereals and snack bars.

Strychar was a guest speaker last week at CropConnect in Winnipeg.