Local innovators win big
TABLELANDS-BASED NATURAL EVOLUTION HAS COME A LONG IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS WITH ITS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH PRODUCTS,
Mingling with some of the world’s sharpest minds in New York, Rob and Krista Watkins (above) couldn’t stop pinching themselves.
NATURAL EVOLUTION’S FLAGSHIP PRODUCT IS A UNIQUE AND HIGH-GRADE RESISTANT STARCH, WHICH IS MADE FROM LADY FINGER BANANAS
MINGLING with some of the planet’s sharpest minds at a ritzy gala event in New York City – population 8.5 million – Rob and Krista Watkins can’t stop pinching themselves.
It is a world away from their home at Walkamin, a tightknit Far North farming town that registered 450 residents during the 2011 census.
But the founders of Natural Evolution were hardly out of place at the 2017 Edison Awards, claiming a top prize for their innovative NutroLock technology.
“It was just amazing, we were standing there at this function right next to the September 11 memorial,” Mr Watkins said.
“At one stage we were 40 storeys up looking over New York.
“For me it felt like a graduation.
“We don’t have to justify ourselves to people anymore. We are good at what we do.”
The couple’s journey from humble Far North banana farmers to humble internationally recognised inventors has been both rapid and remarkable.
Demand for their flagship product, a high-grade resistant starch made from lady finger bananas, is taking off amid growing global awareness of “gut health”.
Natural Evolution this week toasted a major milestone when a Jetstar flight touched down in Japan carry- ing a pallet of the Green Banana Resistant Starch.
“Japan has indicated they’ll need 300 tonnes of it and the product will launch nationally over there at the end of May,” Mr Watkins said.
“Getting Japan for us was the hardest challenge.
“But now we have them, we can go anywhere in the world.”
Since the beginning of its unique banana flour, the Tablelands-based company has come along in leaps and bounds to now boast a wide range of health products.
Along with the resistant starch, Natural Evolution’s burgeoning Banana Ointment – a skincare product sourced from the nutrient-rich cavendish bananas – is also turning heads.
A “full pharmaceutical line” derived from the ointment is expected to be made available later this year.
The couple’s engine room is their Walkamin farm’s cutting edge and “frighteningly efficient” factory, where tonne after tonne of bananas are processed daily.
All this comes just seven years after Mr Watkins – a second generation farmer – accidentally drove over a batch of
bananas one afternoon, creating a “diamond dust” which captured his imagination.
But, according to the couple, it is still only the beginning for Natural Evolution.
Mr Watkins said the company should be “truly global” within the next three years, with major steps being taken to reach this ambitious target.
The couple has “serious propositions” about setting up two more factories in Central Asia, a concept that will be nutted out when Mr Watkins flies to Hong Kong next week.
Despite knocking down an offer to list Natural Evolution on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, they will consider floating the company after first “ticking a few more boxes”.
Mr Watkins said the busi- ness’s turnover had doubled over the past year. But, as the parents of two young girls, growing their unique company from scratch has hardly been a walk in the park.
Mrs Watkins said there had been many “long, long days” over recent years.
“It hasn’t been easy by any extent,” she said.
“Our life consists of work and having fun with our girls.
“The ‘thank-you’ calls we receive from across Australia and the world is what keeps us going.”
In a rich farming area and with an international airport at their doorstep, the Watkins count themselves lucky to live regionally.
“Some people laugh and say ‘are you guys really still based at Walkamin?’ or ‘why haven’t you moved somewhere more central?’” Mrs Watkins said.
“But they have no idea – we can be anywhere in just a few hours.
“We’re humble people who love Cairns and are just passionate about innovation.
“Yes we are in a tourist area, but it’s important we be proactive in seeking other ways of sustaining ourselves as a community.”
IT HASN’T BEEN EASY BY ANY EXTENT. THE ‘THANK YOU’ CALLS WE RECEIVE FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING KRISTA WATKINS