EMIKO
EMIKO is a German biotechnology company that manufactures and sells Effective Microorganisms (EM) products under EMRO certification. It serves agriculture, gardening, household, animal care, water treatment, and human wellness segments via e-commerce, an authorized dealer network, and B2B agricultural sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersMeckenheim, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What EMIKO does
EMIKO is a German biotechnology company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Meckenheim, Germany, that manufactures and distributes Effective Microorganisms (EM) products under an authorized license from EMRO (Effective Microorganisms Research Organization). The company's core technology is a proprietary consortium of beneficial microorganisms—primarily lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and photosynthetic bacteria—formulated at approximately 50 million living microorganisms per milliliter, with each product undergoing 3–5 independent testing procedures prior to release. EM products are positioned as a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and synthetic cleaning agents, designed to restore disrupted ecological cycles in soil, water, plants, animals, and household environments.
The product portfolio spans six application verticals: EMIKO Agrar (professional farming soil, plant, and animal inputs in bulk packaging), EMIKO Garten (home gardening—EM1, MikroDünger, Bokashi fertilizers, UrgesteinsMehl, PflanzenFit), EMIKO Zuhause (DiOLiN EM biological cleaners, water filter systems, EMa fermenters), EMIKO Tier (HorseCare, PetCare, and BeeCare sub-brands), EMIKO Gewässer (Bio Teichpflege, EM-X ceramic products for ponds and aquariums), and EMIKO Mensch (human wellness supplements, cosmetics, and ceramics). The catalog includes core SKUs (EM1, EM Super Cera C, Bokashi pflanzlicher Dünger, StallVital), value bundles offering 10% savings (Garten-Paket, Tomaten-Paket, Garten Frühjahrs-Paket), and ancillary equipment (Bokashi buckets, fermenters, water filter cartridges).
EMIKO generates revenue through a multi-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce (emiko.de/shop), a physical retail store (EMIKO Laden), an authorized dealer network across Germany, and a B2B agricultural sales team providing personalized consulting for farming operations. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from €2.40 for small consumer SKUs to €469.50 for premium water filters, with bulk agricultural SKUs (e.g., €331.90 for a 20kg bag of EM Super Cera C) and free domestic shipping above €75. As a private company with 11–50 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, and no public ownership commentary, EMIKO appears to be self-funded through 25 years of organic growth, having cumulatively served approximately 67,133 customers, processed 326,944 orders over the past decade, and distributed over 4 million liters of liquid EM since 2013.
EMIKO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EMIKO
- Website
- https://emiko.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EMIKO is a German biotechnology company that manufactures and sells Effective Microorganisms (EM) products under EMRO certification. It serves agriculture, gardening, household, animal care, water treatment, and human wellness segments via e-commerce, an authorized dealer network, and B2B agricultural sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EMIKO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biological Agricultural Products
- NAICS
- Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK)
Keywords
Where EMIKO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Meckenheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
EMIKO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales - E-commerce: Direct-to-consumer sales of EM-based products through the EMIKO online shop, selling formulations for human wellness, garden, home, animal care, agriculture, and water body applications. Products include liquids, powders, ceramics, and accessories with one-time purchase pricing.
- Agricultural Product Sales: B2B and B2C sales of agricultural EM products including EM-Technologie, Bokashi fertilizers, soil activators, and farm equipment. Products are sold in bulk quantities (up to 20kg) for professional farming operations.
- Dealer/Reseller Network: Distribution through a network of authorized dealers (Händler) who purchase products wholesale and resell to end customers. Dealers have access to a dedicated login area and receive product training and support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual consumer products ranging from €2.40 to €469.50 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Agricultural bulk products for professional farming |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Value packages offering 10% savings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping costs by weight for Germany and Austria |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
EMIKO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EMIKO manufactures and sells Effective Microorganisms (EM) products under Dr. Higa's original EM technology, offering proprietary blends of beneficial microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria, yeast, photosynthetic bacteria at ~50 million per ml) for agriculture, gardening, home cleaning, animal care, water body treatment, and human wellness. The company operates an e-commerce shop, a dealer network, a physical store (EMIKO Laden), and a dedicated B2B agricultural sales team.
Product overview
EMIKO is a manufacturer and seller of Effective Microorganisms (EM) products, operating under Dr. Higa's Original EM technology. The product portfolio consists of five main product lines organized by application area: EMIKO Mensch (human wellness, including dietary supplements, cosmetics, and EM ceramics), EMIKO Garten (garden products including EM1, MikroDünger, GartenDünger fest, Bokashi fertilizers, soil activators, UrgesteinsMehl, and EM Super Cera C), EMIKO Zuhause (home cleaning with DiOLiN EM products, water filters, and fermentation equipment for making EMa and bokashi), EMIKO Tier (animal care with HorseCare and PetCare sub-brands for horses, pets, and bees), and EMIKO Gewässer (water body care including pond and aquarium products). Additionally, EMIKO Agrar serves professional agriculture with large-format EM products. The company sells directly through an online shop and through a network of dealers, offering both individual products and value bundles such as the Garten-Paket, Garten Frühjahrs-Paket, and Tomaten- und Starkzehrer-Paket. Key products include EM1 (the flagship liquid EM), various Bokashi fertilizers, MikroDünger, and EM ceramics. EMIKO emphasizes that they are authorized manufacturers of EMRO (Effective Microorganisms Research Organization) certified products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EMIKO Mensch Product line focused on human wellness, including dietary supplements, cosmetics, EM food products, and EM ceramics for daily well-being. Targets health-conscious consumers seeking natural wellness approaches.
- EMIKO Garten Garden product line including EM1 Effektive Mikroorganismen, garden fertilizers, soil activators, plant care products, and bokashi buckets for home gardening. Targets home and hobby gardeners.
- EMIKO Zuhause Home cleaning and household product line featuring EM-based cleaners, dishwashing liquids, wood care oils, water filters, and fermentation equipment for making EMa and bokashi. Targets health-conscious consumers seeking eco-friendly household products.
- EMIKO Tier Animal care product line including HorseCare products for horses, PetCare products for dogs and cats, and BeeCare EM Probiotic for bees. Targets pet owners and animal keepers.
- EMIKO Gewässer Water body and pond care products including Bio Teichpflege, Bio Teichpflege PLUS, EM-X Keramik Pipes, and Bokashi Balls for sediment reduction in ponds. Targets pond owners and aquaculture operations.
- EMIKO Agrar Agricultural product line covering soil, plants, animals, and fertilization with EM products, including EM Super Cera C, StallVital, and large-format packaging for professional farming operations. Targets conventional, organic, and regenerative farming operations.
- EM1 - Effektive Mikroorganismen Dr. Higa's Original Effective Microorganisms flagship liquid EM product for garden and home use, containing approximately 50 million living microorganisms per ml.
- EMIKO MikroDünger Liquid organic NPK fertilizer (3.0-1.0-3.1) with effective microorganisms, providing optimal nutrient supply with quick and long-term effects for all garden plants.
- Bokashi pflanzlicher Dünger Organic long-term fertilizer suitable for bio-vegan gardening, containing effective microorganisms that improve soil quality and promote humus formation.
- GartenDünger fest Granular organic-mineral NPK fertilizer (6+2+3) with effective microorganisms for the garden, featuring long-term effects and immediate nutrient availability.
- EM Super Cera C EM-X ceramic powder and granule for agricultural and garden use, improving soil microorganism living conditions and enhancing organic fertilizers.
- HorseCare Product line for horses including Bio Einzelfuttermittel (liquid fermented single feed supplement), Bokashi, Bokashi PLUS, Fellkur (coat care), Spezial PflegeCreme, Stallreiniger (stable cleaner), and EM-X Keramik for water quality.
- PetCare
- DiOLiN EM Reinigungsprodukte
- Wasserfilter Systeme
- UrgesteinsMehl
- StallVital
- Tomaten- und Starkzehrer-Paket
- Garten-Paket
Quantifiable outcome
- 1% humus increase binds approximately 93 tons of CO2 per hectare
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use EMIKO
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
EMIKO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EMIKO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators11 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EMIKO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teraganix: US-based EM technology company producing Effective Microorganisms products for agriculture, home, and wellness — closely overlapping product lines and business model with EMIKO in the international EM category.
- Multikraft: Austria-based manufacturer of EM-based (Effective Microorganisms) products for agriculture, gardening, animal care, and household use — most directly comparable EM peer to EMIKO, with a similar multi-vertical product strategy and D2C plus B2B distribution model.
- ProbioFerm: German manufacturer of probiotic/fermented products using EM technology for agricultural and household applications — competes directly with EMIKO in the German biological inputs market with overlapping product lines.
- Neudorff: German manufacturer of organic gardening, plant care, and natural pest control products — competes with EMIKO's Garten product line and shares the German organic gardening retail channel with similar end customers.
- Biofa AG: German producer of biological plant protection products, organic fertilizers, and biocontrol agents for organic and conventional farming — competes with EMIKO's Agrar line in the German biological agricultural inputs category.
- SCD Probiotics (SCD Bio-Logical): US-based manufacturer of beneficial microorganism products for agriculture, livestock, and home applications — directly comparable EM-style product portfolio targeting similar customer use cases.
Others
- EMRO (EM Research Organization): Japan-based originator and licensor of Effective Microorganisms technology founded by Professor Higa — not a competitor but the certifying body whose license grants EMIKO the right to manufacture 'original EM'; understanding EMRO's licensing strategy is critical to assessing EMIKO's IP and supply positioning.
Emerging players
- Lallemand Plant Care: Canada-based developer of microbial-based plant care solutions (biocontrol, biostimulants, biofertilizers) — directly overlaps EMIKO's agricultural biological inputs positioning and represents a faster-scaling competitor in regenerative agriculture.
Broad incumbents
- COMPO GmbH: Large German incumbent in consumer lawn, garden, and household care products with broad retail distribution — competes with EMIKO's garden and household product lines through scale advantages in shelf placement and brand spend.
- Novonesis (formerly Novozymes): Global biosolutions leader producing enzymes and microbial products for agriculture, animal health, and industrial applications — represents the scaled biological-input model EMIKO could aspire to or be acquired by.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EMIKO social profiles
Digital presenceEMIKO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EMIKO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
EMIKO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EMIKO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EMIKO
What does EMIKO do?
EMIKO manufactures and sells Effective Microorganisms (EM) products under Dr. Higa's original EM technology, offering proprietary blends of beneficial microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria, yeast, photosynthetic bacteria at ~50 million per ml) for agriculture, gardening, home cleaning, animal care, water body treatment, and human wellness. The company operates an e-commerce shop, a dealer network, a physical store (EMIKO Laden), and a dedicated B2B agricultural sales team.
Is EMIKO a public or private company?
EMIKO is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was EMIKO founded?
EMIKO was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EMIKO based?
EMIKO is headquartered in Meckenheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does EMIKO make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are agricultural Product Sales and dealer/Reseller Network.
Who are EMIKO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teraganix, Multikraft, ProbioFerm, Neudorff, Biofa AG and SCD Probiotics (SCD Bio-Logical). EMRO (EM Research Organization) is listed as an others. Lallemand Plant Care is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are COMPO GmbH and Novonesis (formerly Novozymes).
Does EMIKO have an API?
No public API is recorded for EMIKO.
What industry is EMIKO in?
EMIKO's product category is Biological Agricultural Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAEAM, Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing, with a secondary code of AFABAJAK, Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI). Its NAICS code is 3253 and its SIC code is 2836.