Agri Business Review: Specials Magazine

In the agriculture industry, innovation is often half the battle. For every promising biological or synthetic product being developed, the critical question of market access is always looming on the horizon. On the other hand, companies with established distribution networks are always seeking the next breakthrough to keep their portfolios competitive and future-ready. One side needs access while the other needs innovation. Neil DeStefano has the answer for both. As Principal of Neil DeStefano Consulting LLC, he stands as a one-person powerhouse that combines decades of product development, business strategy and commercialization expertise, assisting companies navigate the agricultural inputs industry. He also works with private equity and venture capital firms, supporting due diligence efforts and helping them evaluate potential investments. “I act as a bridge for companies, connecting them with the right partners, guiding new technologies from concept to launch and ensuring every decision is grounded in commercial reality,” says DeStefano. “The key is to understand the innovation’s value and how it translates into real-world benefits—first for the grower, then for the company bringing it to market.” His work typically begins with understanding the client’s position. From there, he evaluates market fit, identifies potential partners, and develops a clear go-to-market plan. Rather than offering theoretical guidance, DeStefano delivers actionable strategies grounded in real-world feasibility. This practical approach is rooted in his extensive leadership experience across sales, marketing, product development, communications, business development, and global business management for two leading crop protection companies, where he successfully developed and launched more than 50 products. This includes providing feedback on a company’s development program to validate performance, estimating the market opportunity size, analyzing pricing models, or determining the optimal channel strategy. For many of his clients, DeStefano plays a key role in assessing and structuring licensing agreements, strategic collaborations, acquisitions, or investment transactions. Across all scenarios, he remains focused on translating product value into commercial success..

Specialty crop nutrients and custom formulations are no longer hard to find. However, timely access to these products remains elusive. EZ-Gro, a family-owned manufacturer of agricultural specialty nutrients and plant stimulators, is changing this narrative by eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks to deliver custom formulations with speed and precision. It also works with distributors to develop plant nutrition for private and white label customers. Its ability to deliver fast without cutting corners is no accident, but a result of retaining complete control of processes and access to deep technical expertise. In one instance, a client approached the company requesting four versions of a 10-10-10 liquid biostimulant formula, each customized for a different crop. It formulated all four and had the order ready to ship within a week—a feat that would take many manufacturers weeks, if not months. “Our biggest competitive advantage is the ability to quickly adapt to shifting demands and regulatory requirements,” says Nick Kanellos, president and co-owner. “With minimal red tape, we develop best-in-class solutions to support diverse agricultural applications.” EZ-Gro boasts one of Canada’s largest organic-certified input portfolios, with over 80 products registered under regulatory bodies, including the Organic Materials Review Institute, Pro-Cert and Eco-Cert. Its formulations are designed for every segment of agriculture, from row crops and greenhouses to turfs and home gardens. It also holds an extensive Canadian Food Inspection Agency-registered portfolio of biostimulants and plant growth regulators. Its product range is complemented by a streamlined design philosophy that prioritizes efficiency for end users. By stacking ingredients into a single, comprehensive product, EZ-Gro reduces the need for multiple applications, simplifying nutrition programs for growers. For instance, one of its in-demand solutions, EZ-Gro MAX, is a powerful crop supplement containing three plant growth regulators—kinetin, indole-3-butyric acid and gibberellic acid—along with biostimulants like salicylic acid and vitamin C. EZ-Gro’s expansive library of over 1,000 in-house formulations and 100 bio-stimulants turns this stacking philosophy into a scalable advantage. With R&D and regulatory registration completed in advance for most formulations, it often has the right combination on file when custom requests come in. This allows distributors and private label clients to bypass lengthy approval processes and bring products to market faster by leveraging its existing license numbers..

Hard water, rising salinity, toxic buildup in the root zone, and fertilizer-packed soil that is no longer available to the plant are not surface-level problems. They are structural failures in how nutrients and biology interact beneath the surface. The deeper issue? Soils are no longer functioning as healthy, living filters. They’ve become clogged, compacted, and chemically imbalanced, suffocating the plant’s ability to take up what it needs. Standard fixes—pH adjustments, fertilizer top-ups, sulfuric acid, and gypsum treatments—offer only temporary improvement but often worsen the underlying conditions with every application, regardless of lowered pH. HCT was founded to solve this—not just with another product, but with improved and enhanced water, bacteria, and soil testing methods, and with chemical solutions for water treatment and soil remediation that rely on ion exchange rather than mere pH suppression. Using advanced chemistry, biology, and soil physics, HCT helps growers and turf managers rehabilitate the soil’s ability to breathe, filter, and feed. It began with municipal water well treatments in California, then expanded into nurseries, agriculture, and turf, earning trust through clear data and measurable results. Today, HCT supports over 6 million acres of soil, including 340 golf courses and many of the country’s most water-stressed growing conditions across the USA. “Hard water, bad water, reclaimed water, compromised soil—that’s all money waiting to be liberated for the grower at a positive ROI,” says Todd R. Eden, Principal of HCT. The company’s science-backed approach uncovers what’s holding plants back, restores balance at the root level, and reduces dependence on costly inputs. It brings soil back to life through evidence, precision, and a program that works with nature, not against it. The process begins with a full water analysis that includes bacterial data. HCT then examines the total soil profile—not just surface-level “exchangeable” nutrients—using total soil digestion tests that reveal the full load of fertilizer and salts that have accumulated, clogging pore space, turning soils septic, blocking root growth, and perpetuating disease. Most conventional testing methods overlook this; they measure only what’s available through root acid production. HCT identifies what’s trapped, how it’s trapped, and why roots fail to reach deeper zones. It also pinpoints areas where water collects and toxic salts form hidden layers. These zones often contain high levels of sodium, chloride, and detrimental biomatter. Roots avoid them, nutrition stays locked, and plants underperform. Treatment uses chemistry—applied through water and directly to the soil—designed to unlock what the plant needs, making nutrients available in an ionic, drinkable form. This process makes existing fertilizers bioavailable, reducing the need for further fertilizer application in most cases. It also restores infiltration, allowing water to reach the full root zone and target depth. Once roots begin absorbing nutrient-rich, healthy water, plants recover and grow beyond expectations, as evidenced by tissue analysis. As the soil is remediated, the amount of chemistry required decreases, transitioning from corrective intervention to sustainable maintenance..