where do oats come from

Oats come from the Avena sativa plant, a type of cereal grain. They are believed to have originated from wild oats (Avena sterilis) in two main regions: the Fertile Crescent in the Near East and the North African/Iberian Peninsula area. Oats were initially considered a weed in fields of wheat and barley and later domesticated as a secondary crop. They thrive in cool, wet climates and became widely cultivated in Europe, especially in places like Scotland. Today, oats are grown around the world, with major production in countries like Canada and Russia. The oats we eat are the seeds of the Avena sativa plant, harvested after removing the inedible hull.