Can the world's demand for food be met safely & sustainably? Todd Edwards says 'yes'
When it comes to the balance between population growth and the increasing demand for environmentally safe and sustainable food production, Todd Edwards is on the cutting edge of addressing one of the world’s most significant concerns.
Edwards earned a degree in horticulture from Brigham Young University and speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. He has worked in 30 different countries, focusing on the development of plant nutritional products and plant bio-stimulants that help reduce the need for petroleum and phosphate-based macronutrients. He has developed his line of organically certified micronutrients and bio-stimulants and spends his time encouraging and mentoring minorities interested in developing careers in the agriculture sector, especially in organic and regenerative farming.
The mission of Mil Agro Inc. is centered on “enhancing the quality and profitability of our clients, with highly efficient and environmentally friendly products, manufactured with the highest quality standards to guarantee the best field performance.” He and his company have been doing that and plan to continue as they move into a promising future.
Mil Agro’s products balance the nutritional needs of a crop and reduce overall fertilizer inputs. Edwards said, “We have developed products to help fill those needs.” Fifty percent of its products are certified-organic and are used in both organic and conventional agriculture. His employees are diverse and often speak multiple languages and have years of international business experience. He is proud of the culture that he has created within his company and is gratified by the opportunity to provide a living for over 20 families.
The SBA’s resource partner, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), assisted him in the early phases of his business planning. He said, “They have given us guidance in obtaining grants and other opportunities to expand our business internationally. Their team members have a vast amount of business experience and have helped steer us in the right direction.”
“The first thought that comes to mind when asked, ‘What does it mean to me to be recognized as Exporter of the Year?’ is extreme gratitude for all of those that helped in the process of building this company,” Edwards said. “We have all drunk from wells we did not dig and warmed ourselves by fires we did not build. We have been surrounded by good people who were interested in our success and lent their support.
“We are grateful for the patience and support of our families,” Edwards continued. “We are grateful for the SBDC, who had a team of good people and the resources to guide and promote our business. A special thanks to Mike Young from the SBDC, who coordinated with others in the program to facilitate resources, advise, inspire and be one of our biggest cheerleaders. We are grateful for the U.S. Commercial Services that helped find and vet distributors in foreign countries. We are grateful for the PPP and EIDL programs that helped us get through the devastating effects of COVID.”
Edwards concluded, “We are grateful for our employees and distributors throughout the world. We want to thank individuals in our community that lent their expertise in formulation, machinery and manufacturing without any compensation. Thank you, Mitch Torrie and Dustin Cefalo. It has been humbling to us to see the growth from our garage to the international entity that we are today. This has been a coordinated individual, community and governmental effort that would not have been successful without all of these parts. There is no adequate way to show our gratitude except to help others do the same. Thank you.”