Natural Foods Industry Entrepreneur Appointed Special Advisor to Inocucor’s Board
September 15th, 2016
Dr. John B. Elstrott Chairs Boards of Whole Foods Market and MicroBiome Therapeutics, Founded Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane University
MONTREAL, Sept. 15, 2016 — Dr. John B. Elstrott, a high-profile entrepreneur and professor in the natural foods and venture capital worlds, has been appointed special advisor to Inocucor Technologies Inc. in the areas of sustainability and environmental science, announced Inocucor’s President and CEO Donald R. Marvin.
Among his many business associations, Elstrott serves as Chairman of Whole Foods Market, Inc. and has been a Director of the company since February 1995. He also co-founded and is Chairman of MicroBiome Therapeutics, LLC, a developer of novel non-prescription therapies that target prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes by interacting with the human microbiome. In the academic world, he is a Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship and the founding Director of the Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business.
“Dr. Elstrott’s impressive credentials in natural foods and his expertise in the sustainable agri-food arena align perfectly with Inocucor’s microbial crop inputs, which support sustainable agriculture practices and improve the health of the plant microbiome,” said Marvin. “His perspective will help guide our management team and board of directors as Inocucor grows.”
Inocucor is a leading innovator and producer of bio-based products that improve crop yields, shorten growing periods and create healthier, more resilient soils for organic farmers, greenhouse growers and mainstream production farmers. Its approach uses fermentation to combine multiple strains of bacteria and yeasts into powerful soil and plant boosters that are safe for people and the environment.
Elstrott was recently named the 2013 Tulane Distinguished Entrepreneur and Social Entrepreneur of the Year. He is also Co-Founder and Partner Emeritus of Elstrott, Maurer & Hunnewell (EMH Strategy), a boutique strategy consulting firm based in New Orleans, and a Director of Source Capital Corporation, Traditional Medicinals, Chocolove and NextFoods, Inc.
He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder, and M.S. and B.S. degrees from Louisiana State University.
Inocucor’s flagship microbial bio-stimulant for farmers and greenhouse growers, Garden Solution®, is now registered in 22 U.S. states and will shortly be available in California. Garden Solution will soon be renamed Synergro™ to better reflect its application as a sustainable farm input product that improves soil health and naturally improves crop yields.
Last November, Inocucor was issued patent No. 9,175,258 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect Inocucor consortia and unique microbial products. The company is currently completing a Series B equity-financing round on the order of $8 to $10 million with venture capital, institutional and family office investors. Funds will be used to scale-up its commercialization activities in North America.