It started with an oatcake.
Then came the oat milk.
But behind both was a woman with a mission—and zero tolerance for glyphosate.
Morgan Maw, the New Plymouth-based founder of Boring® Oat Milk, didn’t build her brand around trends. She built it around trust. From the ground up—literally. And that trust starts with a clean, chemical-free crop.
A Business That Starts with “No”
When Maw approached Harraways—the country’s oldest and largest oat miller—she had one non-negotiable: “I want my oats to have zero glyphosate on them.”
Not low glyphosate.
Not within the legal limit.
Zero.
And they listened.
Harraways, based in Dunedin, is now one of the few processors in New Zealand requiring that no glyphosate be used at any stage of oat production. That includes the controversial practice of spraying glyphosate as a drying agent (pre-harvest desiccation), still common in conventional grain farming.
This wasn’t always the industry norm. But growing demand from companies like Boring®, along with mounting pressure from export partners, shifted the standard.
As Harraways told MPI in its submission against raising allowable glyphosate levels:
“Our supply contracts have specific clauses prohibiting the use of glyphosate… in part due to concerns from our customers and international markets.”
(Source: MPI Submission Summary Report, 2022)
Farming Without Glyphosate: A Quiet Success Story
Harraways’ glyphosate-free protocol doesn’t rely on high-tech fixes. It relies on timing, rotation, and trust. Their contracted growers follow a strict management plan that:
- Prohibits glyphosate use at all stages (not just pre-harvest),
- Encourages integrated weed control (mechanical and cultural),
- Uses early planting windows and competitive oat varieties,
- Maintains traceability from paddock to processor.
In return, they receive a stable market, premium support, and a buyer committed to doing things differently. It’s a win for the farmer—and a win for the soil.
What the Export Market Really Wants
Why go to all this trouble?
Because the world is watching. And in some markets, glyphosate isn’t just frowned upon—it’s a deal breaker.
- Japan and South Korea have strict glyphosate residue thresholds for oats and cereals.
- Germany, part of the EU bloc, has begun phasing out glyphosate entirely.
- China, despite being a major glyphosate producer, has increasingly rejected imports with residue violations.
When glyphosate is detected in trace amounts—even if legally “safe”—shipments can be delayed, returned, or rejected altogether. That creates headaches for exporters and risks undermining New Zealand’s carefully curated “clean, green” image.
And as Maw put it bluntly in her public opposition to MPI’s proposed glyphosate residue increases:
“Perception is reality… We need to build, not erode, trust in our food systems.”
Boring® Doesn’t Just Say “Clean”—They Prove It
Plenty of brands talk about purity. Boring® backs it with action.
Every batch of oat milk is made with independently tested, glyphosate-free oats. They’ve invested in third-party testing to verify what their contracts promise: zero glyphosate.
This kind of transparency isn’t just a marketing tactic—it’s a new standard. And it sends a powerful signal to both consumers and regulators: we don’t have to settle for contamination. We can demand better. And someone will deliver.
It’s a model built on values—but it also happens to make good business sense.
Why This Matters
In a climate where the Ministry for Primary Industries is actively proposing to raise glyphosate limits on oats by 100 times, brands like Boring® are drawing a line in the sand.
They’re saying: just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
And maybe that’s the whole point. New Zealand doesn’t need to compete on yield. Or volume. Or chemical dependency.
We need to compete on integrity.
Food for Thought
What Boring® has done isn’t boring at all. It’s bold.
They’re showing us what food production could look like when clean comes first, and glyphosate is seen for what it really is—not a necessity, but a risk.
Imagine what the industry might look like if more companies followed suit.
Resources & References
Harraways Warns: Herbicide Review Bad for Business
Newsroom article
In response to MPI’s proposal to raise glyphosate residue limits 100-fold, Harraways publicly warned that the change could jeopardize customer relationships and export credibility. The company reiterated its commitment to sourcing oats grown without glyphosate use at any stage.
MPI Proposal to Raise Glyphosate MRLs
Proposed amendments here
The Ministry’s current proposal could allow up to 10 mg/kg of glyphosate in oats—sparking backlash from health-conscious producers.
Morgan Maw on Glyphosate and Export Trust
LinkedIn Post
Boring® Oat Milk founder Morgan Maw publicly opposed MPI’s proposal to increase glyphosate residue limits, warning that it could erode trust with export partners:
“Perception is reality – and we risk losing the high ground… International markets … are highly sensitive to glyphosate residues.”
Greenpeace Opposes Glyphosate Limit Increase
Greenpeace Aotearoa submission
Greenpeace strongly objected to the proposed amendment to glyphosate’s Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), describing it as scientifically unjustified and harmful to both public health and New Zealand’s international reputation. They warned the move would weaken consumer trust and undermine our clean green brand.
“Taranaki Oat Milk Success” – The Post (paywalled)
https://www.thepost.co.nz/business/360721301/environmentalism-keeps-driving-taranaki-business-success-story
Outlines Maw’s early decision to source zero-glyphosate oats from Harraways.
Further reading:
Toxic Legacy: How the Weedkiller Glyphosate Is Destroying Our Health and the Environment
By Stephanie Seneff
Explores how glyphosate may be quietly contributing to chronic diseases through environmental exposure and food contamination.
Toxic Legacy [Our review]
Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science
By Carey Gillam
A hard-hitting exposé on Monsanto’s glyphosate empire and the scientific manipulation behind regulatory approval.
Whitewash [Our review]
Disclaimer: This article was created independently by NoMoreGlyphosate.nz and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Boring® Oat Milk or Harraways. All quotes and references are sourced from public statements or reports available at the time of writing.
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