Rare Pharm (Australia), in association with our Indigenous and strategic industry partners, identifies, sources, researches and brings to market novel plant and marine Australian Botanicals, including from the Torres Straits and nearby Pacific Islands.
Where scientific evidence exists, or where we can demonstrate that these Botanicals have beneficial properties for humans or animals,
we source and supply for nutriceutical and/or cosmeceutical applications.
We pride ourselves on our Joint Venture arrangements with Indigenous people. Through these 50/50 JV arrangements Indigenous people become beneficiaries at all points of the supply chain and are able to participate in business as more than simply being anonymous suppliers of raws at the bottom of the supply chain.
We establish Fair Trade supply contracts negotiated with Indigenous harvesters and planters where Indigenous suppliers are paid higher than market rates.
Our ingredients are sustainably harvested.
Sourced from pristine environments.
We ensure during harvesting that the amount of organic materials harvested is carefully managed to ensure no interruption to the natural plant production cycle or the natural ecosystem. We take care that there is no ecological damage to other species so that the area maintains its biodiversity, climate and water cycles.
We do not test on animals.
Our leaves and stems are sourced from very remote, pristine, spray-free sites and GMO-free sites.
Where scientific evidence exists, or where we can demonstrate that these Botanicals have beneficial properties for humans or animals,
we source and supply for nutriceutical and/or cosmeceutical applications.
We pride ourselves on our Joint Venture arrangements with Indigenous people. Through these 50/50 JV arrangements Indigenous people become beneficiaries at all points of the supply chain and are able to participate in business as more than simply being anonymous suppliers of raws at the bottom of the supply chain.
We establish Fair Trade supply contracts negotiated with Indigenous harvesters and planters where Indigenous suppliers are paid higher than market rates.
Our ingredients are sustainably harvested.
Sourced from pristine environments.
We ensure during harvesting that the amount of organic materials harvested is carefully managed to ensure no interruption to the natural plant production cycle or the natural ecosystem. We take care that there is no ecological damage to other species so that the area maintains its biodiversity, climate and water cycles.
We do not test on animals.
Our leaves and stems are sourced from very remote, pristine, spray-free sites and GMO-free sites.
Our Business Model
Most bio prospecting companies are looking for plants that contain an ingredient that can be replicated chemically, resulting in no benefit to the Indigenous people who discovered and used the plant for many generations and on whose lands the plant originally grew.
Rare Pharm (Australia) differs from other bio prospecting companies in that we seek opportunities that are also of benefit to Indigenous people.
We do this by supporting Indigenous people by screening and testing plants for potential bio-active ingredients, training people to wild harvest (sustainably) or to establish plantations where we can generate a reliable market for their plants, supporting them to undertake value-add activities (such as milling, picking, stem cell extraction, cleansing, treating, on-site processing, packaging, shipping), joint venturing with them to bring product to market and assisting to incorporate discoveries into retail products under the Indigenous landowners’ own label, if that is what they want to do. In some instances, we bring products to market directly to consumers under our own label, Rare Pharm (Australia).
We focus on ingredients and products that can be quickly brought to market, that can be scaled, and that create genuine employment and business opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs or communities.
We are a 'for profit' social enterprise. We aim to support through Joint Venture and/or through brokering and/or entering into strategic partnerships with suitable industry partners. Our intention is to maximise the prospects for long term success. We provide end-to-end and ongoing support to Indigenous producers.
Through Joint Venture, we collaborate to create jobs and business opportunities, not rents.
As co-investors we have ‘skin in the game’ and take a long-term perspective in the business’ development and sustainability.
An estimated 70% of Australia's land mass in currently under Indigenous ownership, most of it in remote and very remote, pristine areas. In addition, an increasing amount of seas are being recognised as the traditional seas of Australian Indigenous people.
Cosmeceuticals and Nutriceuticals represent a highly relevant market for Indigenous people to target, where they have a clear competitive edge.
Rare Pharm (Australia) is a social enterprise, social impact business – we measure our success not only by the profitability of our businesses, but also by the social benefits we create in terms of jobs, commercial developments, education scholarships and income for Indigenous individuals and communities.
We understand and adopt harm minimisation strategies that ensure that neither the environment nor the community is disadvantaged by our engagement.
We are not bio pirates and so we do not seek to exploitatively appropriate Indigenous knowledge to our own exclusive benefit.
Furthermore, our customers and industry partners value that we are partners with Indigenous peoples, not only because it means access to new and exciting active ingredients, but also because our customers’ and industry partners' values frequently align with ours and they are able to incorporate supply chain integrity as a valuable feature in their own brand stories. We facilitate photo shoots and our Indigenous partners are active participants in joint marketing activities.
Rare Pharm (Australia) is currently investigating and undertaking feasibilities for new projects in Western Australia, Cape York, in the Torres Strait Islands, and in the Northern Territory. We are also investigating the feasibility of supporting Indigenous landowners to restart a number of stalled projects on Indigenous lands and seas in Cape York and in the Torres Straits. We are working with Indigenous groups interested in assessing commercial potential of plants known to have healing benefits, and organic materials that may act as carriers, such as gums, clays and sponges, found on Indigenous lands and seas.
Who are we?
Rare Pharm (Australia) Founder and CEO is economic anthropologist/development economist Dr Annie Holden. Annie has over 30 years experience working with Indigenous groups across Australia and New Guinea supporting them to pursue their economic development objectives. Annie is the Australian "Innovation Partner" with a major skin care contract manufacturer with manufacturing facilities in the United States and Korea.
Advisory Board
Professor Neal Ryan is a long-time leading figure in research, innovation and business in Australia. A former Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) of Southern Cross University, Neal was named Griffith Sciences' 2015 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year. Neal has particular expertise in technology innovation and commercialisation and holds directorships on multiple startups.
Noel Pearson is a Guugu Yimidharr man, lawyer and advisor to Indigenous organisations in Cape York and elsewhere in Australia. Noel has spearheaded successful Indigenous economic development strategies and businesses in Cape York.
Philippa Bauer is a Maori woman with deep connections into the Torres Strait Islands. Philippa has sat on the boards and advisory committees of numerous Indigenous organisations and has been involved in a number of Indigenous economic development projects in the Torres Straits.
Adam Allan has held senior management and director roles both in Australia and internationally. He has extensive experience in financial services. While at HSBC, he led the design, development, distribution and management of a range of investment products for global distribution. Adam has particular expertise in innovation, governance and investment. He is a director of QT Mutual Bank Ltd, an elected member of the Brisbane City Council and Deputy Chair of the Brisbane City Finance and Economic Development Committee.
Toni Ovenell is a formulation chemist with extensive expertise in the formulation of skin care products. Toni is highly respected in her profession and has worked for a number of major skin care and nutriceuticals companies before becoming a full-time consultant.
Associates
Erik Anderson of Grant Central provides Rare Pharm (Australia) with advice on grant eligibility and grant applications. Erik is a qualified accountant holding a Bachelors of Commerce and has extensive experience in sourcing grant funding, including in EMDG Export Grants, R&D Tax Incentive Scheme, Ignite Queensland and Commercialisation Australia. Erik is on Austrade’s list of Approved EMDG Consultants and serves on the National Executive of the Export Consultants Group.