What’s EM?
Microbes are the invisible architects of life.
In every breath, every bite, every drop, and every cell, microbes are working nonstop to keep the world alive.
EM = Effective Microorganisms®
EM is a concentrated mixture of friendly, natural microbes that work together to improve soil, water, plants, animals, and human health.
Why EM Matters
Trillions of microbes naturally live all around us.
EM combines: Lactic Acid Bacteria, Yeasts, and Phototrophic Bacteria.
EM creates a balanced system that can revitalize the environment!
How EM Is Used Worldwide
Agriculture & Gardening: Healthier plants, richer soil, fewer chemicals
Water Purification: Cleaner rivers, ponds, and oceans
Composting & Waste Management: Faster breakdown, less smell
Livestock Care: Healthier animals and cleaner living spaces
Human Health: Prebiotics and Probiotics for gut health and overall wellness.
Why Choose EM?
EM works with nature, not against it. Simple, effective, and trusted in over 100 countries. Perfect for gardeners, farmers, business owners, or anyone who cares about a healthier planet. Today, EM is made in the United States by EMRO USA, the official U.S. branch of the EM Research Organization in Japan, based in Tucson, Arizona.
Choose Dr. Higa’s Original EM!
About Professor Teruo Higa
Prof. Higa holding EM Bokashi.
Professor Higa is the pioneer of EM®. In his earlier years, he researched mandarin oranges for his doctorate in Horticulture at Kyushyu University Graduate School. In those days, orange farming relied heavily on agricultural chemicals. He was aware of microorganisms at the time but advocated using chemical fertilizers and pesticides because, through personal experience, he knew that farming was highly labor-intensive. While he was involved in growing oranges, he noticed an overall decline in his health, and his symptoms got progressively worse as he continued to work in proximity to agrochemicals. This experience profoundly impacted him, causing him to shift his thinking and make microorganisms the primary focus of his research.
After returning to Okinawa, he continued his research at the Department of Agriculture at the University of the Ryukyus, experimenting with several strains of safe and harmless microorganisms. One day, he felt it was such a waste to flush these strains down the drain and decided to pour them on a patch of grass instead. A week later, Professor Higa noticed that the growth of the patch of grass was significantly better than that of the grass around it. He was confident that the difference came from the mixture of several different types of microorganisms he had poured out, and he realized that the key to healthy plant growth was the combination of microbes. After many years of trial and error, Professor Higa discovered an optimal mix of microbes and coined the name "EM" for the group. His development of EM Technology has brought him international recognition, and he now provides guidance and assistance in the application and research of EM Technology around the world.
Professor Higa insists that authentic technologies, including EM products, have the power to overcome many common problems humans face, including food crises, environmental degradation, healthcare, and more.
He defines authentic technologies in such a way that they must satisfy two essential criteria: first, they must generate only positive results free from any defects, drawbacks, or negative aspects, and second, they must be affordable. EM® satisfies the first criterion, as no cases have been reported with any evidence of adverse or harmful results or negative side effects. It also meets the second criterion because EM® is manufactured and distributed in many countries worldwide.
Phototrophic Bacteria: Energy
Lactic Acid Bacteria: Stabilization
EM Consists of 3 Main Genera
Lactic acid bacteria are key partners in the EM fermentation system. They ferment sugars and other organic compounds into lactic acid, which helps suppress harmful microbes and prevents putrefaction. For centuries, humans have relied on lactic acid bacteria to safely ferment foods such as yogurt and pickles.
In soils, compost, and organic waste systems, lactic acid bacteria help guide decomposition toward fermentation rather than decay. By stabilizing the microbial environment and reducing odors, they support beneficial soil life and help create conditions where plants and other helpful microorganisms can thrive.
Yeasts are important microorganisms in the EM system and are best known for their role in fermentation, such as making bread, beer, and wine. In EM technology, yeasts drive fermentative processes that convert organic matter into beneficial compounds that support healthy soil and plant growth.
Through fermentation, yeasts produce enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and growth-promoting compounds that support root development and overall plant vitality. These substances also serve as nutrients for other beneficial microbes, strengthening soil biology.
Phototrophic bacteria are core microbes in EM technology. Using sunlight as their primary energy source, these beneficial bacteria help recycle organic matter and certain soil gases into useful biological compounds that support plant and soil health.
As they grow, phototrophic bacteria produce substances such as amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, and natural growth-promoting compounds. These metabolites can benefit plants directly and also nourish other helpful microbes, including lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, actinomycetes, mycorrhizal fungi, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Together, this network of organisms helps improve the natural availability of key nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
By strengthening the soil’s biological community, phototrophic bacteria support a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem that promotes healthier plants and can reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers over time.