Effective Microorganisms

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Effective Microorganisms is also called "EM technology" by the proponents of this concept. "EM technology" is a scientifically unconfirmed method to improve soil quality and plant growth using a mixture of microorganisms consisting mainly of lactic acid bacteria, purple bacteria, and yeasts which co-exist for the benefit of whichever environment they are introduced. It is reported<ref>Szymanski, N.; Patterson, R.A. (2003). R.A. and Jones, M.J. (Eds). "Effective Microorganisms (EM) and Wastewater Systems in Future Directions for On-site Systems: Best Management Practice." (PDF). Proceedings of On-site ’03 Conference, 347–354, Armidale, NSW, Australia: Lanfax Laboratories. ISBN 0-9579438-1-4. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.</ref> to include:

Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus lactis
Rhodopseudomonas palustrus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis
Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor hienalis

The concept of "effective microorganisms" was developed by Japanese agronomist Teruo Higa, from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa who reported in the 1970s that a combination of approximately 80 different microorganisms is capable to positively influence decomposing organic matter such that it reverts into a "life promoting" process. Higa invokes a "dominance principle" to explain the effects of his "effective microorganisms". He claims that there exist three groups of microorganisms: "positive microorganims" (regeneration), "negative microorganisms" (decomposition, degeneration), "opportunist microorganisms". In every medium (soil, water, air, the human intestine), the ratio of "positive" and "negative" microorganisms is critical, since the "opportunist microorganisms" follow the trend to regeneration or degeneration. Therefore, Higa believes that it is possible to positively influence the given media by supplementing "positive microorganisms".

1 Applications
2 Terminology notes
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Applications

EM technology is used to maintain sustainable practices such as farming and sustainable living, and to support human health and hygiene, animal husbandry, compost and waste management, disaster clean-up, and generally used to promote functions in natural communities. EM is employed in the following areas:

Agriculture: for conditioning soil, compost and plant wastes. EM use is intended to produce an improved soil type, a zymogenic soil.
Agriculture: for feeding livestock, for waste treatment, for odor control and pest management (e.g., flies); EM use is intended to manages odors, improve feed utilization, improve component health and vitality.
Agriculture: for treating or controlling various fungal diseases or pests of plants.
Lawn maintenance: for treating soil and compost or organic fertilizers, for preventing fusarium and molds.
Buildings and architecture: to maintain healthy buildings and building materials (lumber, concrete, plaster, etc.), to prevent "sick building syndrome" and extend life of materials.
Deodorizer for barns, waste treatment areas, homes, agricultural and industrial use.
Household: pets, odor control, treating pet wastes on floors, for shower stalls, kitchen sinks, dishpans, garbage pails, toilets, drains, sinks, sink drains, and compost buckets.
Human and animal use: ingestion of a wide range of antioxidative and regenerative products made from EM, intended as a healthful probiotic and antioxidant supplement.
Waste treatment
Wastewater treatment
Septic waste treatment
Remediation of polluted or unbalanced waterways
Toxic waste remediation
Preparation of waste biomass material for bio-conversion into fuels such as biodiesel and others.

EM Technology is also used to make bokashi, EM ceramics, EM salt, fermented antioxidant brews.

[edit] Terminology notes

"Effective Microorganisms" is a name for a general type of product available from a variety of companies.

Because Teruo Higa (and his company EMRO) spread the technology he developed with the term Effective Microorganisms™, this term is now also widely used by many people to refer to the general concept (see genericized trademark). Examples of similar products are Biosa™ (marketed by Biosa) and Efficient Microbes™ (marketed by SCD World).

It sometimes becomes problematic and difficult to refer to the concept because of the trademarks and very often when a new company creates a similar product they give the concept a new name and trademark it also. Other companies also market similar products, though because their marketing is not focused as much on the microorganisms, people often don't associate them with the technology. And companies that also market products for human use seem to get much more widespread publicity (such as EMRO, Biosa and SCD World).

Other terms which are sometimes used to refer to the same concept include: "microbial inoculants", "microbial soil conditioner", "biofertilizer", "compost activator", "soil-based organisms", "indigenous microorganisms", "beneficial microorganisms", "friendly microorganisms", "growth-promoting microorganisms" and many others.

A company, unless it modifies the organism through extensive selective breeding or genetic modification, can't 'own' a naturally occuring organism. It's like a corporation deciding it 'owns' a species of tree. The mixture of microbes found in the liquid cultures known as 'EM' and 'EMRO EM-1' are often found as naturally-occuring consortia..

Only the trademark NAME is the property of the company, not the organisms that compose it. "EM" as a word is not trademarked by anyone. "Efficient Microbes (EM)" is legally trademarked by SCD USA. "EM-1" is legally trademarked by EMRO.

Any and all patents on the naturally-occuring consortia known as EM appear to have been applied for by Dr Higa well after 1994, after the technology and methods were disseminated to the public via several media and venues.

Since the mid-1980's, microbial culture inoculants has been produced and distributed internationally by Dr. Higa's students and by SKK, and also by organizations affiliated with SKK, such as INFRC and APNAN, thus apparently belying any latter-day claims by EMRO that they are the only "official" or "genuine" source of beneficial microbe cultures in the world.

[edit] See also

Compost tea

[edit] References

Sangakkara, U.R. (2002). The technology of effective microorganisms: Case studies of application. Cirencester, UK: Royal Agricultural College.
Amon B, Kryvoruchko V, et al.: Einfluss von "Effektiven Mikroorganismen" auf Ammoniak-, Lachgas- und Methanemissionen und auf das Geruchsemissionspotential während der Lagerung von Schweineflüssigmist und -festmist. Bericht der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien im Auftrag der Multikraft GmbH, 2004 PDF