Effective Microorganisms™ was created in Japan over 25 years ago by Dr. Teruo Higa, professor of horticulture at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. Under the guidance of EM Research Organization (EMRO) in Okinawa, Japan, the owner of the EM•1® formulas and rights, EM•1® has quickly spread to over 120 countries since its introduction in 1982.

Initially, EM•1® was developed to decrease the dependence on synthetically derived agricultural inputs. Dr. Higa foresaw the broad environmental and health issues that have been created from establishing agricultural systems reliant on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and decided to take a fundamentally different approach through the use of beneficial microorganisms to shift soil ecosystems to help native beneficial organisms flourish. Instead of using compounds that kill diseases, Dr. Higa decided to develop a culture of microorganisms that promote all forms of life. By observing the EM•1®, Dr. Higa developed what is known as the EM Philosophy: to develop a sustainable society based on coexistence and co-prosperity, exchange of information, safety, convenience, low cost, and high quality.

Today the use of Effective Microorganisms™ has broadened from agriculture to water treatment, odor control, animal husbandry, human health, and numerous industrial treatments. We are now beyond just the use of microbes and have developed a synergistic blend of a variety of proprietary technologies known as EM Technology™.

Effective Microorganisms, often abbreviated as "EM", is a specific group of beneficial microorganisms, such as phototrophic bacteria, yeast, lactic acid bacteria and actinomycetes. This technology is all natural, utilizing beneficial and effective microbes to repopulate environments with healthy microorganisms. It is a natural and organic technology that has been found to be useful in numerous ways to benefit mankind, including:

• Sustainable agriculture and gardening
  

• Livestock and pet health
  

• Odor control
  

• Human health
  

• Waste management and recycling
  

• Environmental remediation
  

• Eco-friendly cleaning 
  

The concept behind beneficial and effective microorganisms was pioneered by Dr. Teuro Higa, at the University of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. This natural pro-bacterial technology has been in use around the world for over 20 years. Dr. Higa has clearly stated his goal to make this technology available for all of humankind: “it was not my intention to make EM technology into a monopoly but rather to make it freely available to everyone” (Higa, T., 1994, An Earth Saving Revolution II, p. 40) Subsequently, EM technology has been researched and developed by academics worldwide, resulting in thousands of scientific papers and case studies.

 

History of EM

Throughout the 1970s and 80s Dr. Higa pioneered the research that led to the development and commercialization of EM technology. This natural and organic biotechnology has since been successfully commercialized throughout world markets in human health, agriculture, livestock and industrial waste treatment. Thousands of research and efficacy studies have been conducted and documented in projects, conferences and books around the world.

Originally, EM was developed for use in agriculture (crop farming) as an alternative to agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. EM however is not a conventional fertilizer and unlike the purpose of fertilizers, the purpose of EM is to increase the number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. This improves the soil's microbial health and promotes a healthy environment for plants. It can also be used as a processing tool to manufacture organic fertilizers.

From crop farming, its application flowed naturally into livestock. Outside the U.S., EM is actively used in livestock operations, including hog, cattle/dairy, and poultry. From livestock, the positive effects on the livestock waste and effluent into lagoons and rivers led to the use of EM for environmental purposes including land/soil remediation and water purification. EM environmental applications throughout the world have included cleaning polluted waterways, lakes and lagoons, in septic systems, municipal wastewater treatment plants, and landfills/dump sites. As EM became used extensively in livestock, research began into its use as a functional food supplement for human health. It was discovered that EM exhibits very beneficial effects as an antioxidant and probiotic on the digestive system.

EM Technology

EM is an acronym for the brand Effective Microorganisms™. The main product is EM•1® and is sold in over 100 countries.

EM•1® contains 3 major genera of microorganisms:

• phototrophic bacteria
  

• lactic acid bacteria, and
  

• yeast.
  

EM•1® is all natural, not genetically modified, and approved for certified organic production (OMRI Listed) in over 20 countries.