Case Studies
From Healthy Soil to Table: EM Organic Bananas
Okinawa, Japan
Overview
At Sunshine Farm, a directly managed farm of the EM Research Organization, they cultivate rare Japanese bananas without pesticides or chemical fertilizers by applying EM Technology. From soil preparation to processing, they maintain a consistent commitment to quality, producing additive-free Organic Dried Bananas. Characterized by a concentrated natural sweetness often described as “natural caramel,” these products stand out as high-value offerings that have been well received by customers.
Challenges
Japan is one of the world’s largest banana-consuming countries, yet its self-sufficiency rate is less than 0.1%, relying almost entirely on imports.
This is largely due to the availability of inexpensive imported bananas and cultivation difficulties arising from soil and climate conditions.
Cultivation Challenges
-Establishing a sustainable cultivation system without chemical fertilizers or pesticides
-Selecting varieties suitable for Okinawa’s climate, which is prone to frequent typhoons
Dried Banana Production Challenges
-Concentration of not only sweetness but also unwanted flavors during drying
-Quality deterioration from discoloration and hardening due to oxidation in additive-free processing
This is largely due to the availability of inexpensive imported bananas and cultivation difficulties arising from soil and climate conditions.
Cultivation Challenges
-Establishing a sustainable cultivation system without chemical fertilizers or pesticides
-Selecting varieties suitable for Okinawa’s climate, which is prone to frequent typhoons
Dried Banana Production Challenges
-Concentration of not only sweetness but also unwanted flavors during drying
-Quality deterioration from discoloration and hardening due to oxidation in additive-free processing
EM Application
By applying EM Technology, they addressed key challenges in banana cultivation.
Treatment at Planting
-EM Charcoal is placed around each seedling, fostering a microorganism rich environment across the farm
-Planting holes were enriched with bokashi, fallen leaves, banana residue, and charcoal, and sprayed with Seawater Activated EM・1 (AEM) to promote root development and healthy growth
Management During Cultivation
-Seawater AEM (3% salt) diluted 100 times is regularly sprayed across the fields and on the leaves
-Compost made from fermented plant residue, chicken manure, and EM Bokashi is applied according to growth stages
Treatment at Planting
-EM Charcoal is placed around each seedling, fostering a microorganism rich environment across the farm
-Planting holes were enriched with bokashi, fallen leaves, banana residue, and charcoal, and sprayed with Seawater Activated EM・1 (AEM) to promote root development and healthy growth
Management During Cultivation
-Seawater AEM (3% salt) diluted 100 times is regularly sprayed across the fields and on the leaves
-Compost made from fermented plant residue, chicken manure, and EM Bokashi is applied according to growth stages
Effects and Results
Sustainable Banana Cultivation
-Residues such as banana trunks, leaves, and peels from harvesting and processing are converted into high-quality compost with EM and returned to the fields. This promoted organic matter circulation and created microorganism-rich “forest-like soil.”
-By carefully selecting varieties suited to Okinawa’s climate, they achieved healthy plants resistant to pests, diseases, and typhoons. As a result, sustainable cultivation without pesticides or chemical fertilizers became possible.
Quality Improvement
-Bananas grown in this organic matter-rich soil, fully ripened on the tree, became significantly sweeter, more aromatic, and more nutritious.
-Comparison of the Japan Food Standard Composition Table (8th Revised Edition, Supplement 2023) and analysis by the Incorporated Foundation Okinawa Prefecture Enviroment Science Center in March 2021 showed lower fat content, approximately 38% higher carbohydrates, and approximately 36% higher protein.
-By slowly drying these bananas with a unique low-temperature method, they concentrated natural sweetness and nutrients, eliminating the harshness often found in conventional dried bananas.
Development of High Value Added Products
With EM Technology consistently applied from soil preparation through processing, they developed Japanese domestic organic dried bananas under the “H&LOOP” brand. Embodying the brand slogan “making both people and the planet a little richer,” this product is safe, reliable, and produced in fields with organic certification and facilities with organic processing certification.
-Residues such as banana trunks, leaves, and peels from harvesting and processing are converted into high-quality compost with EM and returned to the fields. This promoted organic matter circulation and created microorganism-rich “forest-like soil.”
-By carefully selecting varieties suited to Okinawa’s climate, they achieved healthy plants resistant to pests, diseases, and typhoons. As a result, sustainable cultivation without pesticides or chemical fertilizers became possible.
Quality Improvement
-Bananas grown in this organic matter-rich soil, fully ripened on the tree, became significantly sweeter, more aromatic, and more nutritious.
-Comparison of the Japan Food Standard Composition Table (8th Revised Edition, Supplement 2023) and analysis by the Incorporated Foundation Okinawa Prefecture Enviroment Science Center in March 2021 showed lower fat content, approximately 38% higher carbohydrates, and approximately 36% higher protein.
-By slowly drying these bananas with a unique low-temperature method, they concentrated natural sweetness and nutrients, eliminating the harshness often found in conventional dried bananas.
Development of High Value Added Products
With EM Technology consistently applied from soil preparation through processing, they developed Japanese domestic organic dried bananas under the “H&LOOP” brand. Embodying the brand slogan “making both people and the planet a little richer,” this product is safe, reliable, and produced in fields with organic certification and facilities with organic processing certification.
"Organic Dried Banana" is available for the Japanese market only.
If you are in Japan, you can purchase it here.
(The online store is in Japanese only.)
Purchase
If you are in Japan, you can purchase it here.
(The online store is in Japanese only.)
Organic Dried Banana 50g
EM Seikatsu
(September 2025)
