What
is EM
EM is the abbreviation for Effective Micro-Organisms.
EM is a combination of useful regenerated micro-organisms that exist freely in
nature and are not manipulated in any way.
This mixture increases the natural
resistance of soil, plants, water, humans, and animals.
EM considerably improves
the quality and fertility of soil as well as the growth and quality of crops.
The possibilities for using EM are numerable and include the following:
-
For use in the home in daily life for everyone
- The recycling of kitchen
waste and turning it into valuable organic material;
- In the garden to
improve soil structure, increase productivity and to supress both disease and
weeds
- For solving all kinds of environmental problems such as water, air,
and soil pollution;
- In agriculture and horticulture, fruit and flower
cultivation;
- In animal husbandry and for all kinds of pets;
- In
fisheries, aquariums and swimming pools;
- In personal bodily hygiene and
for the prevention and treatment of health problems.
EM consists
of many different kinds of effective, disease-suppressing micro-organisms. Each
of these effective micro-organisms has a specific task. In addition, these micro-organisms
enhance each other’s working. This means that synergy occurs!
The micro-organisms
are naturally existing and are not modified or manipulated in any way and are
cultured according to a specific method. Some of which are known to produce bioactive
substances such as vitamins, hormones, enzymes, antioxidants and antibiotics that
can directly, or indirectly enhance plant growth and protection.
EM consists
of the following five families of micro-organisms:
- Lactic acid bacteria:
these bacteria are differentiated by their powerful sterilising properties. They
suppress harmful micro-organisms and encourage quick breakdown of organic substances.
In addition, they can suppress the reproduction of Fusarium, a harmful fungus.
- Yeasts:
these manufacture anti-microbial and useful substances for plant growth. Their
metabolites are food for other bacteria such as the lactic acid and actinomycete
groups.
- Actinomycetes: these suppress harmful fungi and bacteria and
can live together with photosynthetic bacteria.
- Photosynthetic bacteria:
these bacteria play the leading role in the activity of EM. They synthesize useful
substances from secretions of roots, organic matter and/or harmful gases (e.g.
hydrogen sulphide) by using sunlight and the heat of soil as sources of energy.
They contribute to a better use of sunlight or, in other words, better photosynthesis.
The metabolites developed by these micro-organisms are directly absorbed into
plants. In addition, these bacteria increase the number of other bacteria and
act as nitrogen binders.
- Fungi that bring about fermentation these break
down the organic substances quickly. This suppresses smell and prevents damage
that could be caused by harmful insects.
Effective Microorganisms,
or EM is one of the most popular microbial technologies being used worldwide now
and EM products have been on the market since 1983 in Japan.
EM comes in
a liquid form and consists of naturally-occurring beneficial microorganisms.
Throughout
the world, EM applications are made in the farming, livestock, environmental clean-up
(polluted waterways, lakes and lagoons), and health industries.
What EM
is not, is harmful, pathogenic, genetically-engineered/modified (GMO), nor chemically-synthesized.
Neither is EM a drug or fertilizer.
