What is EM?

EM® is a brand name for a series of products created in Japan over 25 years ago by Dr. Teruo Higa, professor of horticulture at the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.

EM-1® Microbial Inoculant contains live cultures of soil-based natural-occurring beneficial microbes – Lactic Acid bacteria, Yeast, and Phototropic bacteria – in eliminating harmful bacteria. Under the guidance of EM Research Organization (EMRO), the use of EM-1® Microbial Inoculant™ has quickly spread to over 140 countries since its introduction in 1982.

All versions of the EM-1® work great as environmentally-safe de-greasers and all-purpose cleaners. EM-1® is especially useful as a cleaning or deodorizing agent due to its antioxidant qualities and ability to eat grease.

With EM-1®, one is able to reverse putrefaction (rotting) and change the characteristics of what it is applied to. This same EM Technology® has also been used to create new ducts for human health and other commonly used products around the home such as soaps, and cleaners.

EM-1® is safe to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. When applied, it helps to promote life, degrade toxic compounds and clean the environment.

EM Technology™ is effective, economical, and easy to apply in:

Agriculture

Environment

Household

Among the many uses of EM® in the home and industry is that it is able to

• Control foul odours and the spread of pathogenic microorganisms;
•  Reduce or replace all the cleaners in the home & industry;
• Soil amending, foliar feeding plants;
• Composting food & garden wastes (without the rotting & foul odour), cleaning, degreasing, laundry, and
• Making a soothing bath for people with skin problems.

For pest control, spraying the shed areas, mats, and the cooking area will prevent odor, which attracts flies. EM•1® will prevent rotting with a foul smell, which in turn, eliminates the food source for ants, roaches, rats, and mice. These pests leave scent trails through access points (crawl spaces, utility access both over-head and below and through walls) to return upon and for other pests to follow. Periodic cleaning of these areas with EM•1® will eliminate the insect's scent trails.

EM-1® can be used directly from the bottle or they are grown one time for economical purposes. This "growing" process is called EM-1® Activated Solution (EMAS). 

Restaurants, Hotels & Homes

Restaurants need Effective Microorganisms™. Grease and odours hover everywhere in the operation. Restaurant owners purchase various products for treating all these issues (soap, degreaser, bleach, drain cleaner, acids, enzymes, etc.). Using EM-1® for all these applications will take care of these problems and save the restaurant owner time & money.

With all the food, garbage, and water, restaurants are notorious for attracting pests. Therefore, cleanliness is extremely important. Also, restaurants care about keeping chemicals away from the foods they plan to prepare for their customers. What better way is there than to get rid of the chemicals and clean with all natural products?

For hotel and home housekeeping, EM-1® applications will first reduce and eliminate odour in carpets, furniture, trash, etc. Second, it is also used to clean windows, mirrors, toilets, tubs, flooring, etc.

Commercial Waste Treatment

EM Technology® has been used around the world in the treatment of solid waste landfills. Landfills are maintained under strict regulations that require daily covers, dust control, odour control, and leachate management for air and groundwater protection. Using EM-1® in the daily cover and in the water trucks that are used to control dust, odour, and increase compaction rates, are simple ways to better-manage a landfill.

An added benefit is that EM-1® will eliminate odour on contact, making for better neighbor relations and better working conditions for employees. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been implicated in breathing problems. Eliminating H₂S, as EM-1® has been proven to do in wastewater treatment, can also connect EM-1® with worker safety.

Agriculture

Aquaculture – A tremendous amount of information on the various styles of fish farms ranging from shrimp farms in Thailand that are in the ocean to catfish farms in China has been generated over the years on Effective Microorganisms® in large-scale aquaculture operations. The most common problems that fish farms have are due to over-stocking of the farms and creation of excess ammonium nitrogen in the water.  Basically, there is an over-population problem from over-stocking and too much wastes cause the fish to be susceptible to diseases.  The concentration of wastes increases (rise in BOD) microbial activity and drop dissolved oxygen (DO) in the ponds or tanks, starving the fish from oxygen. This stresses the animals and can kill them. EM-1® is effective at controlling these issues.

Livestock – In over 100 countries EM•1® is used for livestock applications. The applications are about the same no matter the animal.  The benefits differ according to the type of operation as well as some of the applications that are done. EM-1® encourages the growth of beneficial microbes and their by-products stop putrefaction, thereby stopping the production of odour and attraction to flies.

Effective Microorganisms™ can help control the tremendous amounts of ammonia (NH₃) found on large poultry operations. Ammonia gas rising from the litter can burn the breasts and feet of the birds and cause blindness in the birds as well. At very high concentrations ammonia becomes lethal. The trick to increasing the general health of the operation and public opinion is to reduce, or eliminate, the ammonia. Beneficial microbes naturally break up ammonia. As ammonia is an oxidative substance, it is putrefactive and supports the growth of pathogenic microbes. EM-1® has an antioxidant effect on manure and will resist putrefaction, preventing noxious odors, attraction to pests, and control pathogen growth.

Using EM-1® not only helps control poultry odors, additionally a simple and affordable maintenance plan also leads to increased production, decreased condemnation rates, and increased feed conversion, thereby increasing the grower's profits.

Crops & Soil – EM-1® can be used to accelerate the soil building process and promote beneficial microbial communities. The soil building process revolves around soil aggregate formation. Soil aggregates form as mineral and decomposed organic matter particles are bound together by microbial secretions that act as glues. Stable and well-formed soil aggregate is the key to overall soil function.

EM-1® produces high levels of polysaccharides and other beneficial enzymes and organic acids that help build stable aggregate and soil structure. Increased aggregate stability prevents the pore spaces between the aggregates from collapsing during heavy, saturating rains and reduces compaction caused by machinery. Furthermore, improved soil aggregate stability reduces soil erosion and run-off. Soils are better able to absorb and retain moisture, as well as cycle nutrients.