Who is Teruo Higa?

Teruo Higa (1941) studied at the faculty of agriculture at the University of Ryukyus on the island of Okinawa, Japan. As a student he focused on fruit cultivation and fruit trees, an underdeveloped branch of agriculture on Okinawa. He also followed a graduate research program on the cultivation of mandarins at the University of Kyushu. In 1970, he was appointed lecturer at the University of Ryukyus, where he has been a senior lecturer in horticulture since 1982.

In 1981, Higa accidentally combined a mixture of micro-organisms that stimulated extraordinary success in the cultivation of crops. This formed the basis for EM technology, effective organisms, and the start of a series of products that can be used – see Ode March, 2003 – in agriculture, horticulture, cattle breeding, the fisheries, the treatment of waste, water treatment and in the construction industry. EM is a curious mixture of photosynthesising bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, fungi and yeast, all of which are characterised by their anti-oxidant and regenerative effect. EM technology is used in about 120 countries, namely in agriculture, the fisheries and water treatment.

Higa has (co-) authored a large number of publications, many of which have been printed in English. His most popular book is ‘An Earth Saving Revolution’.