“The totally natural way to reduce, reuse and recycle organic waste” |
EM-1
EM - "An area that appears to hold the greatest
promise for technological advances in crop production, crop protection,
and natural resource conservation is that of beneficial and effective
microorganisms applied as soil, plant and environmental inoculants.''
Dr Teruo Higa
Background and Development
The development of EM technology started in 1968 with the intention to improve the quality of crops and create countermeasures against the difficulties of continuous cropping, and the prospects of its practical use did not materialise until 1980. EM became a practical product in 1982 and spread throughout the world as the organic farming movement increased. Presently, there are over eighty countries in the process of or are utilizing EM.
The concept of Effective Microorganisms (EM) was developed by Professor Teruo Higa, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan (Higa, 1991; Higa and Wididana, 1991a). EM consists of mixed cultures of beneficial and naturally-occurring microorganisms that can be applied as inoculants to increase the microbial diversity of soils and plants. Research has shown that the inoculation of EM cultures to the soil/plant ecosystem can improve soil quality, soil health, and the growth, yield, and quality of crops.
EM contains selected species of microorganisms including predominant populations of lactic acid bacteria and yeast's, and smaller numbers of photosynthetic bacteria, actinomycetes and other types of organisms. All of these are mutually compatible with one another and can coexist in liquid culture.
EM is not a substitute for other management practices. It is, however, an added dimension for optimizing out best soil and crop management practices such as crop rotation, use of organic amendments, conservation tillage, crop residue recycling, and bio-control of pest. If used properly, EM can significantly enhance the beneficial effects of these practices (Higa and Wididana, 1991b).
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