James Roberts is an Agritech Principle Advisor at Larta Institute; in this capacity, James provides one-on-one business mentoring to the innovative companies that participate in the Larta-managed USDA Commercialization Assistance Training Program (USDA-CATP). Roberts has been part of the Larta team since 2008.


Jim Roberts has a broad and accomplished background spanning 3 decades of starting up new and unique manufacturing businesses, and has successfully turned around many companies in trouble. He has held Senior Executive positions with global companies such as Alcoa and Kloeckner Pentaplast, as well as significant domestic corporations including Rock-Tenn Company. As an early innovator in plastic packaging, he brought over new technology and machinery from Europe, as well as personally designed and produced highly innovative thermoformed packaging. He specialized in “fixing broken businesses” that no one else could help.

Mr. Roberts has owned or been a part-owner of several companies, and continues as principal owner in companies that search for and import cutting-edge food packaging and processing machinery to the U.S. He holds a patent for breakthrough food coating technology, and has personally directed significant food safety research breakthroughs. He has comprehensive experience in startup and seeking funding for entrepreneurial ventures, both as a principal and a consultant to others.