EM·1® is a mixed culture of beneficial microorganism (primarily photosynthetic and lactic acid bacteria, yeast, actinomycetes, fermenting fungi) that can be applied as bio-inoculant to increase the microbial diversity of soils. This in turn, can improve soil quality and health, which enhances the growth, yield, and quality of crops.

The concept of inoculating soil and plants with beneficial microbes to create a more favorable microbiological environment for plant growth has been discussed for decades by agricultural scientists. Professor Higa has devoted much of his scientific career in isolating and selecting different microorganisms for co-existance in physiological cultures as they would in natural environment. The mixture of beneficial microbes would magnify the effects synergistically.