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Going Bananas | Krista Watkins | TEDxJCUCairns


did you know every week in North

did you know every week in North Queensland there’s 500 metric tonnes of

Queensland there’s 500 metric tonnes of

Queensland there’s 500 metric tonnes of wasted green bananas simply because

wasted green bananas simply because

wasted green bananas simply because they’re too big they’re too small then

they’re too big they’re too small then

they’re too big they’re too small then miss shapen or there’s an oversupply on

miss shapen or there’s an oversupply on

miss shapen or there’s an oversupply on the market that’s crazy right Australia

the market that’s crazy right Australia

the market that’s crazy right Australia only accounts for 1% of the global

only accounts for 1% of the global

only accounts for 1% of the global population of bananas bananas are the

population of bananas bananas are the

population of bananas bananas are the fourth largest agricultural crop learned

fourth largest agricultural crop learned

fourth largest agricultural crop learned throughout the world fortunately there

throughout the world fortunately there

throughout the world fortunately there is a better way but first I want to tell

is a better way but first I want to tell

is a better way but first I want to tell you a story in the small Far North

you a story in the small Far North

you a story in the small Far North Queensland farming town of welcome in

Queensland farming town of welcome in

Queensland farming town of welcome in Australia something was going on the

Australia something was going on the

Australia something was going on the Wallabies were gathering the cattle and

Wallabies were gathering the cattle and

Wallabies were gathering the cattle and the wild pigs well they were breaking

the wild pigs well they were breaking

the wild pigs well they were breaking fences why it was Friday afternoon and

fences why it was Friday afternoon and

fences why it was Friday afternoon and they knew that farmer Rob was about to

they knew that farmer Rob was about to

they knew that farmer Rob was about to start dumping his wasted bananas from

start dumping his wasted bananas from

start dumping his wasted bananas from the week’s work of picking and packing

the week’s work of picking and packing

the week’s work of picking and packing well they were there waiting for me

well they were there waiting for me

well they were there waiting for me again he’d says he strolled in the house

again he’d says he strolled in the house

again he’d says he strolled in the house for dinner not interested in the yellow

for dinner not interested in the yellow

for dinner not interested in the yellow ones just the green ha

ones just the green ha

ones just the green ha that’s animals for you doll I’d simply

that’s animals for you doll I’d simply

that’s animals for you doll I’d simply pass him off thinking that perhaps they

pass him off thinking that perhaps they

pass him off thinking that perhaps they were starving although that kind of

were starving although that kind of

were starving although that kind of acceptance it didn’t sit well with

acceptance it didn’t sit well with

acceptance it didn’t sit well with either of us why on earth would anybody

either of us why on earth would anybody

either of us why on earth would anybody want to eat a green banana when you

want to eat a green banana when you

want to eat a green banana when you consider the local offerings thick

consider the local offerings thick

consider the local offerings thick luscious grass the neighbours sweet

luscious grass the neighbours sweet

luscious grass the neighbours sweet potato the pumpkins down the road no

potato the pumpkins down the road no

potato the pumpkins down the road no they wanted green bananas well at least

they wanted green bananas well at least

they wanted green bananas well at least somebody was using them right it

somebody was using them right it

somebody was using them right it wouldn’t be long before Rob and I

wouldn’t be long before Rob and I

wouldn’t be long before Rob and I finally got our answer in the midst of

finally got our answer in the midst of

finally got our answer in the midst of running a commercial banana farm

running a commercial banana farm

running a commercial banana farm fighting to come backs from devastating

fighting to come backs from devastating

fighting to come backs from devastating cyclones it happened the aha moment was

cyclones it happened the aha moment was

cyclones it happened the aha moment was a summer afternoon the Sun just

a summer afternoon the Sun just

a summer afternoon the Sun just beginning to set and the last of the

beginning to set and the last of the

beginning to set and the last of the pallets being loaded onto the semi

pallets being loaded onto the semi

pallets being loaded onto the semi crunch it was enough to jolt day

crunch it was enough to jolt day

crunch it was enough to jolt day dreaming farmer Rob right back to

dreaming farmer Rob right back to

dreaming farmer Rob right back to reality a cloud of powder began to waft

reality a cloud of powder began to waft

reality a cloud of powder began to waft in the air coming from underneath the

in the air coming from underneath the

in the air coming from underneath the forklift frightened he stopped he jumped

forklift frightened he stopped he jumped

forklift frightened he stopped he jumped down off the forklift to investigate

down off the forklift to investigate

down off the forklift to investigate this peculiar sound and and cloud of

this peculiar sound and and cloud of

this peculiar sound and and cloud of dust now they must have fallen out of a

dust now they must have fallen out of a

dust now they must have fallen out of a carton and sat on the road for a couple

carton and sat on the road for a couple

carton and sat on the road for a couple of days in the tropical North Queensland

of days in the tropical North Queensland

of days in the tropical North Queensland heat before being accidentally driven

heat before being accidentally driven

heat before being accidentally driven over now where most would see just

over now where most would see just

over now where most would see just another wasted banana or mess not our

another wasted banana or mess not our

another wasted banana or mess not our Rob no he saw opportunity taste it taste

Rob no he saw opportunity taste it taste

Rob no he saw opportunity taste it taste the taste that he came screaming in the

the taste that he came screaming in the

the taste that he came screaming in the door that night oh boy you’ve really

door that night oh boy you’ve really

door that night oh boy you’ve really gone through summers this time I thought

gone through summers this time I thought

gone through summers this time I thought hesitantly I licked my finger and I

hesitantly I licked my finger and I

hesitantly I licked my finger and I dipped it into the pile of partially

dipped it into the pile of partially

dipped it into the pile of partially powdered smashed bananas it tastes you

powdered smashed bananas it tastes you

powdered smashed bananas it tastes you right it does taste like flour doesn’t

right it does taste like flour doesn’t

right it does taste like flour doesn’t taste like bananas at all it’s it’s

taste like bananas at all it’s it’s

taste like bananas at all it’s it’s earthy and wholesome it’s it’s it’s

earthy and wholesome it’s it’s it’s

earthy and wholesome it’s it’s it’s quite delicious you don’t have a cup of

quite delicious you don’t have a cup of

quite delicious you don’t have a cup of it by any chance do you this could be

it by any chance do you this could be

it by any chance do you this could be the perfect gluten-free flour in the

the perfect gluten-free flour in the

the perfect gluten-free flour in the hours that followed there was research

hours that followed there was research

hours that followed there was research research research green bananas for

research research green bananas for

research research green bananas for cooking green bananas as a porridge but

cooking green bananas as a porridge but

cooking green bananas as a porridge but nothing about green bananas as a flower

nothing about green bananas as a flower

nothing about green bananas as a flower so we thought this could be the perfect

so we thought this could be the perfect

so we thought this could be the perfect solution to our 5 ton of wasted bananas

solution to our 5 ton of wasted bananas

solution to our 5 ton of wasted bananas every week let’s do it let’s make green

every week let’s do it let’s make green

every week let’s do it let’s make green banana flour and we did but it’s easier

banana flour and we did but it’s easier

banana flour and we did but it’s easier said than done it takes 10 kilos of

said than done it takes 10 kilos of

said than done it takes 10 kilos of green bananas just to make 1 kilo of

green bananas just to make 1 kilo of

green bananas just to make 1 kilo of flour sore thumb saw hands and boy are

flour sore thumb saw hands and boy are

flour sore thumb saw hands and boy are those bananas sticky trying to peel 70

those bananas sticky trying to peel 70

those bananas sticky trying to peel 70 bananas just to make one kilo of flour

bananas just to make one kilo of flour

bananas just to make one kilo of flour it wasn’t long and word got out people

it wasn’t long and word got out people

it wasn’t long and word got out people had heard about this 6 kilogram batch of

had heard about this 6 kilogram batch of

had heard about this 6 kilogram batch of banana flour and they knew that it was

banana flour and they knew that it was

banana flour and they knew that it was available every

available every

available every Tuesday from the family’s local cafe

Tuesday from the family’s local cafe

Tuesday from the family’s local cafe within a short amount of time the orders

within a short amount of time the orders

within a short amount of time the orders started coming in we were behind at this

started coming in we were behind at this

started coming in we were behind at this rate it was going to take us at least

rate it was going to take us at least

rate it was going to take us at least six months just to catch up and we were

six months just to catch up and we were

six months just to catch up and we were getting phone calls people were feeling

getting phone calls people were feeling

getting phone calls people were feeling happy age old health problems

happy age old health problems

happy age old health problems disappearing and the foodies

disappearing and the foodies

disappearing and the foodies well they wanted to know what do you do

well they wanted to know what do you do

well they wanted to know what do you do with this green banana flower how could

with this green banana flower how could

with this green banana flower how could they be using it to something had to

they be using it to something had to

they be using it to something had to give unfortunately it did a very tiny

give unfortunately it did a very tiny

give unfortunately it did a very tiny six by six meter square old unused cold

six by six meter square old unused cold

six by six meter square old unused cold room saw Rob pilot the first green

room saw Rob pilot the first green

room saw Rob pilot the first green banana processing plant in Walkmen we’re

banana processing plant in Walkmen we’re

banana processing plant in Walkmen we’re rolling out 350 kilograms of banana

rolling out 350 kilograms of banana

rolling out 350 kilograms of banana flower a week we’d saved nearly all of

flower a week we’d saved nearly all of

flower a week we’d saved nearly all of the wasted bananas on our farm but still

the wasted bananas on our farm but still

the wasted bananas on our farm but still had enough left for our good friends the

had enough left for our good friends the

had enough left for our good friends the Wallabies we had also just become the

Wallabies we had also just become the

Wallabies we had also just become the very proud new parents to a beautiful

very proud new parents to a beautiful

very proud new parents to a beautiful baby girl and together Katie and I spent

baby girl and together Katie and I spent

baby girl and together Katie and I spent our one two days creating and unlocking

our one two days creating and unlocking

our one two days creating and unlocking the mystery of green banana flower she

the mystery of green banana flower she

the mystery of green banana flower she would patiently sit on how kitchen bench

would patiently sit on how kitchen bench

would patiently sit on how kitchen bench going and going at my incredible and

going and going at my incredible and

going and going at my incredible and often mysterious creations but then the

often mysterious creations but then the

often mysterious creations but then the phone rang hello this is Cynthia from

phone rang hello this is Cynthia from

phone rang hello this is Cynthia from the laboratory it’s important that I

the laboratory it’s important that I

the laboratory it’s important that I speak with Robert right away Oh Cynthia

speak with Robert right away Oh Cynthia

speak with Robert right away Oh Cynthia the laboratory senior microbiologist

the laboratory senior microbiologist

the laboratory senior microbiologist he’s not in at the moment can I take a

he’s not in at the moment can I take a

he’s not in at the moment can I take a message

message

message no it’s important that I speak directly

no it’s important that I speak directly

no it’s important that I speak directly with him have him phoned me back at once

with him have him phoned me back at once

with him have him phoned me back at once oh I thought I hope this banana Flair’s

oh I thought I hope this banana Flair’s

oh I thought I hope this banana Flair’s not gonna kill anyone so I head out into

not gonna kill anyone so I head out into

not gonna kill anyone so I head out into the paddock Rob Rob the labs on the

the paddock Rob Rob the labs on the

the paddock Rob Rob the labs on the phone and it’s urgent that they speak

phone and it’s urgent that they speak

phone and it’s urgent that they speak with you a very cool farmer Rob strolls

with you a very cool farmer Rob strolls

with you a very cool farmer Rob strolls in the house – phone Cynthia she was

in the house – phone Cynthia she was

in the house – phone Cynthia she was waiting Robert what is this sample that

waiting Robert what is this sample that

waiting Robert what is this sample that you’ve sent us it’s simply Mike’s sample

you’ve sent us it’s simply Mike’s sample

you’ve sent us it’s simply Mike’s sample a and sample B a cautious farmer Rob

a and sample B a cautious farmer Rob

a and sample B a cautious farmer Rob carefully lined up his own section of

carefully lined up his own section of

carefully lined up his own section of questioning why do they need to know

questioning why do they need to know

questioning why do they need to know what these samples were heavens above it

what these samples were heavens above it

what these samples were heavens above it was just green powdered bananas

was just green powdered bananas

was just green powdered bananas one Cavendish and one ladyfinger well

one Cavendish and one ladyfinger well

one Cavendish and one ladyfinger well those are the ladyfinger bananas from

those are the ladyfinger bananas from

those are the ladyfinger bananas from Walkman they were about to make history

Walkman they were about to make history

Walkman they were about to make history they were the richest source of

they were the richest source of

they were the richest source of resistant starch ever tested on earth

resistant starch ever tested on earth

resistant starch ever tested on earth and we had discovered it now what is

and we had discovered it now what is

and we had discovered it now what is resistant starch resistant starch is

resistant starch resistant starch is

resistant starch resistant starch is pretty much exactly that it’s resistant

pretty much exactly that it’s resistant

pretty much exactly that it’s resistant to primary digestion when it gets into

to primary digestion when it gets into

to primary digestion when it gets into our large intestines it ferments

our large intestines it ferments

our large intestines it ferments creating a chemical called butyrate

creating a chemical called butyrate

creating a chemical called butyrate butyrate feeds the good bacteria that

butyrate feeds the good bacteria that

butyrate feeds the good bacteria that lives within our gut when the good

lives within our gut when the good

lives within our gut when the good bacteria is thriving in our gut so are

bacteria is thriving in our gut so are

bacteria is thriving in our gut so are we if it wasn’t enough that these little

we if it wasn’t enough that these little

we if it wasn’t enough that these little ladyfinger bananas from Walker Minh with

ladyfinger bananas from Walker Minh with

ladyfinger bananas from Walker Minh with a richer source of resistant starch we

a richer source of resistant starch we

a richer source of resistant starch we also found that they contained 5htp now

also found that they contained 5htp now

also found that they contained 5htp now when 5htp is consumed it produces

when 5htp is consumed it produces

when 5htp is consumed it produces serotonin serotonin is what’s

serotonin serotonin is what’s

serotonin serotonin is what’s responsible for making us feel good it

responsible for making us feel good it

responsible for making us feel good it makes us feel happy it makes us sleep

makes us feel happy it makes us sleep

makes us feel happy it makes us sleep well at this point in time we were

well at this point in time we were

well at this point in time we were totally in the mood for making a few

totally in the mood for making a few

totally in the mood for making a few more world first scientific discoveries

more world first scientific discoveries

more world first scientific discoveries so we asked the research team throw it

so we asked the research team throw it

so we asked the research team throw it on agar plates with staffing and coli

on agar plates with staffing and coli

on agar plates with staffing and coli let’s see what happens and guess what

let’s see what happens and guess what

let’s see what happens and guess what those little green lady fingers from

those little green lady fingers from

those little green lady fingers from Walkman they inhibit the growth of

Walkman they inhibit the growth of

Walkman they inhibit the growth of Staffan and coli well we had the great

Staffan and coli well we had the great

Staffan and coli well we had the great divide with more than a thousand

divide with more than a thousand

divide with more than a thousand varieties of bananas in the world nobody

varieties of bananas in the world nobody

varieties of bananas in the world nobody had ever thought to start looking them

had ever thought to start looking them

had ever thought to start looking them differently as in their nutritional

differently as in their nutritional

differently as in their nutritional value in their properties we were going

value in their properties we were going

value in their properties we were going to need a bigger factory 350 kilos of

to need a bigger factory 350 kilos of

to need a bigger factory 350 kilos of green banana powder made from

green banana powder made from

green banana powder made from ladyfingers wasn’t going to solve the

ladyfingers wasn’t going to solve the

ladyfingers wasn’t going to solve the world’s health issues it wasn’t going to

world’s health issues it wasn’t going to

world’s health issues it wasn’t going to be enough for all the foodies and it

be enough for all the foodies and it

be enough for all the foodies and it certainly wasn’t going to be enough to

certainly wasn’t going to be enough to

certainly wasn’t going to be enough to start killing off staff in a cold way so

start killing off staff in a cold way so

start killing off staff in a cold way so we built one the natural evolution

we built one the natural evolution

we built one the natural evolution facility the world’s first and still the

facility the world’s first and still the

facility the world’s first and still the only pharmaceutical grade green banana

only pharmaceutical grade green banana

only pharmaceutical grade green banana processing facility in the world stands

processing facility in the world stands

processing facility in the world stands proud in waka Minh today easily we can

proud in waka Minh today easily we can

proud in waka Minh today easily we can produce one ton of powder albeit bananas

produce one ton of powder albeit bananas

produce one ton of powder albeit bananas from Cavendish bananas or green banana

from Cavendish bananas or green banana

from Cavendish bananas or green banana resistant starch as a supplement from

resistant starch as a supplement from

resistant starch as a supplement from green ladyfinger bananas on an

green ladyfinger bananas on an

green ladyfinger bananas on an eight-hour shift

eight-hour shift

eight-hour shift we have scientifically proven our method

we have scientifically proven our method

we have scientifically proven our method and it locks in nutrients 20 to 50 times

and it locks in nutrients 20 to 50 times

and it locks in nutrients 20 to 50 times higher than conventional food processing

higher than conventional food processing

higher than conventional food processing techniques it has been the very well

techniques it has been the very well

techniques it has been the very well deserved winner of many local and

deserved winner of many local and

deserved winner of many local and international sustainability and

international sustainability and

international sustainability and Innovation Awards the process is

Innovation Awards the process is

Innovation Awards the process is completely in line it’s cold its raw and

completely in line it’s cold its raw and

completely in line it’s cold its raw and it can easily give fruit or veg up to

it can easily give fruit or veg up to

it can easily give fruit or veg up to three years natural shelf life what

three years natural shelf life what

three years natural shelf life what began is trying to solve our waste

began is trying to solve our waste

began is trying to solve our waste problem really has become so much more

problem really has become so much more

problem really has become so much more the animals they were there and they

the animals they were there and they

the animals they were there and they were telling us all along we couldn’t

were telling us all along we couldn’t

were telling us all along we couldn’t see it without a microscope but

see it without a microscope but

see it without a microscope but instinctively they knew they were

instinctively they knew they were

instinctively they knew they were feeling happy

feeling happy

feeling happy serotonin their digestion was working

serotonin their digestion was working

serotonin their digestion was working well resistant starch and they were in

well resistant starch and they were in

well resistant starch and they were in peak physical condition shiny coats

peak physical condition shiny coats

peak physical condition shiny coats vitamins and minerals this story began

vitamins and minerals this story began

vitamins and minerals this story began seven years ago with many more chapters

seven years ago with many more chapters

seven years ago with many more chapters still to be written Australia accounts

still to be written Australia accounts

still to be written Australia accounts for one percent of the world’s banana

for one percent of the world’s banana

for one percent of the world’s banana population what is our problem is the

population what is our problem is the

population what is our problem is the world’s problem and we look forward to

world’s problem and we look forward to

world’s problem and we look forward to solving that problem together

”

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