EM Research Organization

What EM Research Organization does

EM Research Organization, Inc. (EMRO) is a privately held Japanese corporation headquartered in Kitanakagusuku Village, Okinawa, with a regional subsidiary, EMRO Asia Co., LTD, in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Founded to commercialize the EM (Effective Microorganisms) Technology developed in 1982 by Professor Emeritus Teruo Higa of the University of Ryukyus, EMRO develops, certifies, and licenses a proprietary consortium of beneficial microorganisms — phototrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and yeasts — that work synergistically to improve soil microbiology, water quality, organic waste decomposition, and environmental remediation.

The company's product portfolio spans the core microbial formulations EM·1 and Activated EM·1 (AEM); application-specific products including EM Bokashi (fermented organic fertilizer), EM Mudballs (water-body bioremediation), EM Gravitron Charcoal, EM Bracon and EM Ceramics (rectifying blocks); and specialty offerings such as EM·X GOLD. EMRO also operates the EM Certification Program, which licenses certified producers in Germany, Thailand, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Spain, and Peru to manufacture and distribute EM-based products under trademarks such as EMIKO and EM Agro. End markets served include agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, water and waste treatment, environmental remediation, and disaster recovery, with documented deployments across 130+ countries and over 168 case studies in 43 countries.

EMRO's business model combines direct product sales, technology licensing and certification royalties, and community-driven ecosystem development. Products reach end users exclusively through 90+ authorized distributors and certified partners, with field adoption reinforced by international conferences (notably the EM Universal Village International Conference, which drew 200+ researchers from 27 countries in November 2024), academic publications (200+ papers 2019–2026), and flagship initiatives such as the EM Universal Village project in Kitanakagusuku, the Genki Ala Wai Project in Honolulu, and the Cajicá municipal waste-management program in Colombia. The company is small (1–10 employees), privately held, and operates without external institutional capital, relying on its licensing and distribution network for global reach.

Name

EM Research Organization

Legal name

EM Research Organization, Inc.

Website

https://emrojapan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EM Research Organization (EMRO) develops and licenses EM (Effective Microorganisms) Technology, a proprietary microbial consortium created by Prof. Teruo Higa in 1982. The Okinawa-based firm sells EM products and certifies third-party producers serving agriculture, water, waste, and environmental markets across 130+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biotechnology

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Adjuvants & Spray Aids (OMRI Surfactants, Stickers, Oils) (AFABAKAL)

Keywords

• Microbial biotechnology
• Agricultural biologicals
• Organic fertilizers
• Water treatment solutions
• Environmental remediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Okinawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. EM Product Sales: Sale of proprietary EM microbial products including EM·1, Activated EM·1, EM Bokashi, EM Ceramic products, EM Mudballs, and related formulations through a global network of authorized distributors.
2. Technology Licensing and Certification: Licensing of EM Technology to authorized producers worldwide who produce EM Certified Products under the EMRO certification framework. Regional partners such as EMRO Asia, AMBIEM (Brazil), BIOEM SAC (Peru), and others produce and distribute locally.
3. EM Certification Program: EMRO operates a certification program for products meeting EM standards (EM Certified Products), with certified products from countries including Germany, Thailand, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Spain, and Peru.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

EM Research Organization develops, manufactures, and distributes Effective Microorganisms (EM) technology — a proprietary multi-species microbial culture originally developed by Prof. Teruo Higa in 1982 — applied across agriculture, livestock, environmental remediation, and water treatment. Its portfolio includes base microbial cultures (EM·1, Activated EM·1, EM·X GOLD), organic soil amendments (EM Bokashi), water and air purification inputs (EM Mudball, EM Gravitron Charcoal, EM Ceramics), biological pest control (EM Bracon), and a Certified Products program that licenses the EM mark to partner manufacturers.

Product overview

EM Research Organization offers a portfolio of biological technology products centered on Effective Microorganisms (EM), a consortium of beneficial microorganisms developed in 1982. The core offerings include EM・1 and Activated EM・1, supplemented by application products like EM Bokashi (fermented soil amendment), EM Mudball (water treatment), EM Gravitron Charcoal (soil enhancement), EM Ceramics, and EM Bracon (environmental harmonization). The company also operates an EM Certified Products Program that certifies third-party products manufactured worldwide including deodorants, stickers, and agricultural products. EM Technology is used in over 130 countries across diverse fields including agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, environment, waste treatment, and water treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EM Technology: Effective Microorganisms technology platform developed by Prof. Teruo Higa
• EM・1
• EM Universal Village
• Activated EM・1 (AEM)
• EM Bokashi
• EM Mudball
• Genki Ala Wai Project

Products and services

• EM·1 Original Effective Microorganisms liquid culture that serves as the foundational product of the EM technology line; used as a base concentrate for agriculture, environmental, and household applications.
• Activated EM·1 Pre-activated, ready-to-use version of EM·1 produced for customers who do not wish to ferment the concentrate themselves; used directly in soil, water, and waste-treatment applications.
• EM Bokashi EM-fermented organic fertilizer and soil amendment produced by fermenting organic matter with EM cultures; supplied to growers as a biological alternative to synthetic fertilizers.
• EM Mudball Clay-bound balls containing EM cultures that are dropped into ponds, rivers, and canals to improve water quality, reduce sludge, and control odor through ongoing bioremediation.
• EM Gravitron Charcoal EM-treated charcoal media used in water and air filtration setups to support microbial purification and adsorb impurities; intended for environmental and household water/air-quality systems.
• EM Ceramics EM-treated ceramic pellets deployed in water and air treatment systems to provide a long-lasting carrier medium for EM cultures and improve purification efficiency.
• EM Bracon Biological pest-control input within the EM product line, formulated for agricultural use as a non-chemical alternative to synthetic pesticides.
• EM·X GOLD Premium EM-based liquid supplement positioned for livestock and aquaculture applications, used in feed or drinking water to support animal health and waste management.
• EM Certified Products Program Licensing and certification program that allows partner manufacturers to produce and sell EM-formulated products (e.g., household cleaners, cosmetics, personal care, and agricultural inputs) under the EM Certified mark, subject to EMRO's quality standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% reduction in chemical fertilizer use and 20% increase in cacao yield in Peru (FAO report)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AMBIEM (Brazil)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 April 2025AMBIEM is EMRO's partner in Brazil organizing the International EM Technology Conference 2025, bringing together experts in regenerative coffee production, composting, and effluent treatments. AMBIEM also coordinates with Peruvian partner BIOEM for Latin American EM promotion.
• Kitanakagusuku Village (Okinawa, Japan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2024EMRO and Kitanakagusuku Village are jointly implementing the EM Universal Village Project — a comprehensive initiative applying EM Technology across agriculture, housing, food, tourism, and environmental sustainability. The project includes a BioCycle Center, ICT-powered greenhouse, school children's farm, and renewable energy components. Phase 1 was completed with the construction of the high-density energy cultivation greenhouse and bio-cycle center.
• BIOEM SAC (Peru)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBIOEM SAC is EMRO's partner in Peru dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture. They provide workshops for cacao farmers and agricultural cooperatives on producing Activated EM·1 and biofertilizers. Their work was featured in an FAO official report. Representative Mr. Francis Reyes was featured in AgroPerú Magazine.
• FUNDASES (Colombia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUNDASES introduced the Cajicá Project — a model sustainable waste management initiative in Colombia. The municipality previously sent ~32,000 tons of waste to landfills annually; now composts organic waste using EM Bokashi, diverting 34% of total waste. Cajicá operates its own EM Bokashi production plant providing free product to 40,000+ households.
• BIONOVATION (Costa Rica)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBIONOVATION collaborates with Costa Rica's Alianza Nacional de Ríos y Cuencas (Citizen Water Observatories) to expand water purification activities. In 2024, they coordinated the production of 22,000 EM Mudballs placed in 35 rivers across Costa Rica, with 124 OCAs and 1,600 participants.
• EM Hawaii LLC (Hawaii, USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEM Hawaii LLC leads the Genki Ala Wai Project to restore Honolulu's Ala Wai Canal using EM Technology. Since 2019, over 200,000 Genki Balls have been deployed. The project received coverage from University of Hawaiʻi News and celebrated 300,000 Genki Balls milestone on Earth Day 2026.
• EM e.V. (Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEM e.V. is EMRO's pioneer partner in Germany, founded by Franz Mau and later led by his son Pit Mau. The organization played a pivotal role in spreading EM Technology across Europe and published the EM Journal.
• Green Faculty Pte Ltd (Singapore)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDr. Hia Hui Ching of Green Faculty Pte Ltd presented on developing eco-towns in Malaysia using EM Technology comprehensively, including sanitation, wastewater, food waste management, and EM concrete applications.
• Maple OrgTech (India) Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMr. Madan Mohan Mohanka, chairman of Maple OrgTech (India) Ltd., reported on fully organic farming in Sikkim State and water bioremediation outcomes. Sikkim became the world's first fully organic state in 2003 using EM Technology.
• EMRO Asia Co., LTD (Thailand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMRO Asia is the regional headquarters for Asia, providing EM product distribution, technical support, and disaster recovery operations. They coordinated flood relief in Chiang Rai, Thailand, supplying 2,000 liters of EM·1 across 12 districts and establishing EM Mudball production partnerships.
• EM Association in Poland / EM FormacjacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEM Association in Poland published reports on the EM Conference in Prague and organized the EMRO Partner Meeting 2025 in Poland, connecting EM practitioners across Europe.
• EM Seikatsu, Inc. (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEM Seikatsu is an associated company of EM Research Organization offering EM products and services using EM Technology. It was part of the EM Support Project Team for Tsunami Reconstruction following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
• United Networks for Earth Environment (U-net of Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerU-net of Japan is part of the EM Support Project Team for Tsunami Reconstruction and supports volunteer activities with EM materials and technical guidance. Mr. Atsushi Ogawa from U-net serves as an EM Nature Farming Instructor.
• Kishu EM Hiroba (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMr. Seiji Yamaji of Kishu EM Hiroba shared new solutions using EM salt weeding to address weed control and rising rice bran prices hindering natural farming, with experimental data presented at the EM Universal Village Conference 2024.
• Amurita Farm (Niseko, Hokkaido)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmurita Farm shared their 10-year journey transforming forestland into organic farm using EM Technology and winning the ORGANIC·ECO-FESTA Grand Prix 2024. They discussed evolution of farming techniques using EM and emphasized love and altruism in agriculture.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pivot Bio: Pivot Bio produces microbial nitrogen-fixing crop inputs as a direct substitute for synthetic fertilizers. It targets the same regenerative agriculture and chemical-input-reduction value proposition as EMRO's agricultural product line, serving row crop farmers in North America and expanding globally.
• Italpollina: Italpollina produces organic fertilizers, biostimulants, and microbial inoculants for sustainable agriculture. It is directly comparable to EMRO's EM Bokashi and EM·X GOLD agricultural product lines and serves similar regenerative farming customers globally.
• Symborg: Symborg (acquired by Corteva) develops biofertilizers and biostimulants based on microorganisms for soil and crop health. It is a direct competitor in the microbial agricultural inputs market with overlapping distribution channels in Europe and Latin America.
• Indigo Agriculture: Indigo Ag develops microbial seed coatings and biological products to improve crop yield and reduce chemical inputs. It overlaps directly with EMRO's agricultural applications but operates at greater scale and with direct farmer relationships.
• AgBiome: AgBiome develops microbial products for crop protection and yield enhancement using its proprietary microbial discovery platform. It competes with EMRO's agricultural products but with a more biotech-oriented R&D approach and stronger venture backing.
• BioWorks: BioWorks develops biological crop protection and plant nutrition products using beneficial microorganisms. It competes in the same biofertilizer and biocontrol market segment as EMRO, particularly in horticulture and specialty crops.
• Biolchim: Biolchim manufactures biostimulants and specialty fertilizers derived from plant and microbial extracts. It is a directly comparable peer in the European and global biostimulant market, addressing the same regenerative and organic farming customer base.
• Lallemand: Lallemand is a global leader in yeast and bacterial-based products for baking, animal nutrition, and agriculture (Lallemand Plant Care). It is a directly comparable peer producing microbial inoculants and biofertilizers for the same agricultural and environmental applications as EMRO.
• Biofa AG: Biofa AG produces biological plant protection products and biostimulants in Germany, comparable to EMRO's agricultural product portfolio. It serves similar European organic and regenerative farming customers and overlaps with the German market that EMRO's EM e.V. partner historically addressed.

Broad incumbents

• Novonesis (formerly Novozymes BioAg): Novonesis is the largest industrial enzymes and microbial solutions provider globally, including a substantial bioag portfolio. It competes with EMRO in the microbial agricultural inputs space but at vastly greater scale and with broader product breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EMLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/emro.japan
• Instagraminstagram.com/emro_japan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EM Research Organization