EM® is a unique combination of beneficial Effective Microorganisms® which exist in nature, including Lactic Acid, Phototrophic Bacteria and Yeast species. It combines and balances the beneficial effects of these micro-organisms to achieve positive synergistic effects. EM® is an environmentally safe product developed in 1982 by Prof. Teruo Higa from EM® Research Organization of Japan (EMRO). It achieves synergistic effects by combining beneficial microorganisms which exist in nature, such as lactic acid bacteria, yeast and phototrophic bacteria. The trademarked EM® brand represents a line of polymicrobial products that are used in numerous fields including agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture and environmental remediation in more than 100 countries around the world. EM® activates local and native microorganisms that live in soil and water and maximizes their natural power.

EM® Technology was introduced to South Africa by EMROSA in the late 1990’s. In 1998, Prof JF Prinsloo was invited to attend a meeting with Mr Yoshida from EMROSA. The aim of the discussion was to consider the possible implementation of EM® Nature Farming Techniques into the different integrated aquaculture-agriculture production systems at the Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) of the University of the North (now Limpopo). This challenge was immediately accepted as a possible solution to problems encountered with water quality in the super high-density fish production water recirculating unit as well as numerous problems experienced with soil compaction and a variety of pests and diseases associated with predominately chemically orientated vegetable production plots. Read more here