Expanding The Sphere of Life – EM

Introductory Invisible Power

to EM – The World of Microorganism

What is created by man will return to man one day

 ■Introductory Guide to EM
What is EM?
EM is the acronym for Effective Microorganism and refers to a group of
microorganisms that are beneficial. EM was developed by Professor Teruo Higa at the
Agricultural Department, University of Ryukyus as an agent to improve soil quality to realize
high yield without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers in crop production. Since its
development, use of EM has spread in Japan with the support of practitioners of natural and
organic farming, and has been introduced and widely-used in various countries around the
world as well, reaching over 116 countries at present.
EM is aimed towards a pleasant, safe, inexpensive, high quality standard, and to
make sustainable society possible. As part of the EM group that is administered by EM
Research Organization (EMRO), we intend to contribute towards the protection of
environment and human health through the application of EM technology.
The use of EM technology began in agricultural applications and has now expanded
into the fields of food production, poultry and livestock production, environment and human
health including industrial applications.
Furthermore, EM has been applied at the grassroots level through activities led by
communities from several local governments as a movement calling for participation from
the socially disadvantaged, and have achieved satisfying results. For example, activities to
reduce garbage by applying Bokashi (fermenting agent) to food scraps and left-overs resulted
to a town full of flowers through the use of Bokashi compost, and EM activated solution
diluted into rice washing water was used in cleaning rivers; all of these are convenient
methods to help preserve the environment.

The Power of EM
EM is composed of microorganisms such as photosynthetic bacteria, yeast, lactic
acid bacteria, actinomycetes, and filamentous bacteria.
People think of dreadful bacteria when they hear of microbes or microorganisms.
However, EM does not contain any bad microorganisms (harmful bacteria such as
staphylococcus that causes food poisoning, welusia bacterium that causes old age) that are
harmful to humans, animals, or plants nor does it use genetically engineered microbes.
EM consists of only those microorganisms which ancient people have used in their lives
consciously or otherwise.
EM has the ability to control harmful bacteria (microbes that produce toxins) and to
attract beneficial bacteria other than those in EM, and activate them. They continuously
produce antioxidants, antibiotics, and soluble nutrients (including minerals) that are
beneficial to human, plants, and animals.
Once these beneficial microorganisms join forces together and start interacting, they
will move in a positive direction based on instinct.
Sometimes only one application of EM is enough to achieve a good result, but in
some instances, the microbes will not take effect even after 100 applications. To get the best
effect of EM, the tip is to use it as many times possible until the desired result is achieved. It‘s
like the force of inertia; “once a heavy ball starts rolling, it keeps on rolling and becomes
difficult to stop.”

Dominant Microorganisms in EM

Photosynthetic Bacteria
Photosynthetic bacteria have a long record of existence and are believed to have
lived 3.5 billion years ago. Since the earth came into existence 4.6 billion years ago,
photosynthetic bacteria are the oldest creatures living up to now. It is also believed that only
photosynthetic bacteria were able to use radiant energy during the ancient times.
Photosynthetic bacteria absorbed non-organic elements like carbon dioxide and hydrogen
that covered the earth during that time, and discharged organic elements and carbonic acid.
Human existence including animals and plants owes to these organic compounds and oxygen
produced by the photosynthetic bacteria. At present, we cannot find
photosynthetic bacteria everywhere as it used to be during the ancient
times. But we can find it in the rice paddy as it provides an environment
wherein aerobic bacteria, the senior microorganism in the world of EM,
and the anaerobic bacteria to live together symbiotically.
Yeast
Yeast refers to the “source of fermentation” which is an essential component in
making wines and bread. The yeast was discovered by Anthony van
Leeuwenhoek (1632 – 1723), a Dutch trader who introduced the world
of microorganism and amazed the people during the time. In taxonomy,
yeast is a species of Eumycetes (fungi), which is distinct since it is a
single-celled organism unlike most other fungi which are multi-cellular.
It is a minority group in the world of microorganisms but are very
essential to human life.

Lactic Acid Bacteria

In taxonomy, lactic acid bacteria belong to the Bacillus family and are
microorganisms that convert sugar into lactic acid (lactic acid fermentation). A special
characteristic of these bacteria is that they can live fairly well and co-exist with other bacteria.
Since the time of its discovery by Louis Pasteur in 1857, it has attracted attention as being the
bacteria that had the best effect on human health. Researches have
shown that these have beneficial effect in immuno-stimulatory
activities, antitumor, antimutagenicity, reducing serum cholesterol and
hypertension. It knocks out harmful bacteria and helps increase the
good ones by assuming the character of Dirty Harry in the world of
EM.

Actinomycetes
These are also called radial bacteria and they reproduce from the center point into a
radial pattern, as the name suggests. It looks like fungi, at a glance, but it can be easily
distinguished since threads are only 1 µm in diameter. Actinomycete is
represented by family of Streptomyces which produces antibiotics such
as streptomycin. Among the 5000 types of antibiotics that have been
discovered, more than two-thirds are produced by the family of
Streptomyces.

Actinomycetes can be found abundantly in the soil and they produce biologically
active agents such as antibiotics which other bacteria do not produce.
Filamentous bacteria
This refers to fungi, which we often encounter in our lives. In taxonomy, it belongs
to the Eumycetes which is also a family of fungi; it produces lots of bacterial threads and
spores. We usually have negative impression of fungi; however, there are
also beneficial fungi such as Aspergillus glaucus which is essential in
manufacturing dried bonito stock. In the world of EM, they are hard
working creatures like yeast, producing various biologically active agents
such as amino acids and polysaccharides. Filamentous bacteria also
provide food that is suited to enhance function of yeast.
 Applications in Various Fields

1. Vitalizing the Agricultural Sector with EM

Preparing the farm before application:
Tip: Replenish humus and try to establish EM
For 1000 square meters of land
Basic Procedure
- EM-1: 1 to 200 liters (dilute in appropriate ratio and disperse thoroughly to the area)
- Compost: 2 to 3 tons (grass or manure of herbivorous animal as source; better EM
treated)
- Bokashi: 200 to 300 kilograms
Spread above materials 1 month before planting and start plowing the soil (soil will harden
by plowing with tiller as many times, and better use lister when plowing).

2. EM & Livestock
Basics of EM in Livestock Application
Drinking water: Dilute EM with water 2000 – 4,000 times.
Feeds: Add 1% - 3% of EM Bokashi to the feeds (of good quality).

3. Aquaculture:
The idea is same as in
livestock feeding which
improves the
compatibility of
microorganism to the
environment; 1% to the
feeds in order to prevent
from sliming.
For closed type
aquaculture, tip is to
add 1/10,000 of EM to the total volume of water.
Mixing the EM to the feeds will decompose organic matters and decrease the accumulation
of slime, cleanse the water, and lessen the load to the environment.
4. Water Treatment
The present trend in activating sludge is to feed dirt to aerobic microorganisms in the
water by supplying air and take out the carcass as sludge. As a result, sludge and gas
emitted during decomposition will cause bad odor, and solubility of heavy metals deteriorate
the environment and cause problem in treatment of sludge.
The advantages of cleansing method using EM are shown by decreasing the volume of
sludge, reduction of cost in transport of sludge, saving electricity with decreased air supply,
improving water quality, and lessening bad odor. It will cleanse to the extent that water used
for treatment can be reused. Furthermore, the facilities using normal sludge activation
method can be diverted as is, and verification test by several public purifying facilities is
already in progress. Since deodorizing effect of EM is remarkable, it can be introduced as an
agent in eliminating odor.
There are generally two methods of sludge treatment; one is lagoon method which uses
the natural environment and the other is septic tank method which applies man-made
structures. In either method, the tip in applying EM is to establish it in the whole area. So
aside from applying it to the sludge, it is necessary to come up with a mechanism in
establishing EM structurally. The point is to provide an environment considering the feeds,
dwelling, and temperature treating EM as a living thing. Between the 2 methods, it seems the
natural environment provided in the lagoon method is more suitable for EM to inhabit and
effective than the man-made structure.
As a general method of application, EM is introduced or inoculated at the first inflow of
contaminated water. Disperse in 1000 to 10,000 times of EM or EM activated solution to the
flow water. If the bottom material is not soil, put polished ceramic, charcoal, brick or tiles to
make EM established in the said environment.

5. Construction
Basics in Application for Construction Industry
- Solution for Sick House
Sample application: disperse 0.5 – 1% of EM or 0.1% of EM-X to the odiferous
substance such as paint.
- Application to Concrete
 Sample application: put in 1 – 2% of EM active solution into a concrete mixer and start
agitating. Mix in 0.1 – 1% of EM-X Ceramic powder.
- Application for Paint
Sample application: Mix in about 3% of EM-X Ceramic powder and start painting.
- Construction of Foundation
Disperse plenty of EM Activated Solution to the foundation or either 50 – 100 grams of
EM-X Ceramic powder for every 3.3 square meters of the foundation.
- Ant Repellant & Anti-corrosion Treatment For Construction Materials
As a remedy for chemical application, inject EM-X or EM-Z to the lumber or wood
materials.
- Maintenance
Application for Carpet: Disperse 500 grams of
EM-X Ceramic powder for every 3.3 – 6.6 square
meter of carpet and add 0.2% of EM Activated
Solution to absorb and then suction out.
- EM Treatment For Household Septic Tank
- Reuse Water as EM Treatment Water (water
recycling)
Put in EM regularly.
 6. Waste Treatment

For Domestic Waste

Kitchen waste disposed from households are treated with EM while still fresh and after
fermentation, it becomes an effective fertilizer. A basin for the purpose is sold in the market
in Japan so just follow the instructions; put the kitchen waste in the basin and add EM
bokashi and seal it. This will make treatment of kitchen waste easier with EM. If basin for the
purpose is not available, a children’s bathtub or composter can be used as a container or you
may put more EM or EM Bokashi to the kitchen waste and bury it in the soil.
The idea is to create an environment without contact with air as possible; it should be
treated while still fresh; kitchen wastes contain plenty of moisture (more than 90%) so drain
it well; and think about how to treat the drained water.
Vegetables pose no problem in particular but meat and fish get rotten faster causing foul
odor, so it is necessary to add more EM Bokashi to these kitchen wastes.

7. Environmental Issues
Present Situation of Environmental Issues:
Today, 70% of river pollutants in cities are said to come from household drainage. Even
in the farming community, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are destroying the river’s
ecological balance. Furthermore, despite the problems in dioxins at the waste treatment site
raised by public institutions, the reality is that no measures are taken against it.
With the application of EM, we can make EM fermenting solution with water used in
washing rice at home and apply it in washing laundry or in bathing, and discharge to sewage.
In agricultural areas, we can apply pesticide-free/non-chemical fertilizers with the use
of EM in farming. Through these EM activities, we received correspondence from all over
the place, about fishes and fireflies reviving and rivers and ponds becoming clear and clean.
The best advantage of EM is that it can convert pollutants into energy and to clean the
environment. With the possible use of EM in any field, we can prevent discharge of
pollutants thereby creating a society that promotes recycling. Today, local governments as
well as the country itself has promulgated the use of EM and some have started making EM
model regions. Aside from this, we have found some clues to solve many difficult problems
with the use of EM technology such as alkaline leaching out from tetra pots in the seashores,
exhaust gas from automobiles, factory smokestack, dioxin, contaminants and residual
radiation from soil. EM will be in further demand for its vital role in solving environmental
problems in the future.
In normal situation, soil will gradually become rich through the effect of
microorganisms and plants. If there are plants that survive in a specific environment, we
believe there are certain conditions such as climate or microorganisms in the soil which allow
only a specific plant to survive. Therefore, we presume that the possibility of EM’s influence
to valuable roots of a particular environment such as desert would be minimal.

emresearch@emrpi.com
www.emrpi.com