Microbes & Enzymes

We don’t normally see microbes and enzymes unless we go to a scientists lab and watch them under microscopes in culture dishes. But what are they really, and why are they making headway in the development of beneficial products used in our farms which produces organic crops and animals for food production?

A typical Google search defines;

Microbe: A very tiny form of life — microbes include bacteria, fungi, and protozoan parasites — best visualized under a microscope, and,

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living organism. An enzyme acts as catalyst for specific chemical reactions, converting a specific set of reactants (called substrates) into specific products. Without enzymes, life as we know it would not exist.

In simpler terms, there are two kinds of microbes, a harmful kind that causes various diseases and a beneficial kind which is useful in many ways. Enzymes on the other hand, are biological compounds found inside and outside the body, speeding up a reaction but never takes part in the reaction.

Types of Enzymes

1. Protease – breaks down protein in the food we eat so as to be readily absorbed by the cells in the body.
2. Amylase – breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars so as to be readily absorbed and turned into energy by the body.
3. Lipase – breaks down fats and oils absorbed by the body to be turned into stored energy 2.5 times greater than what carbohydrates produces.
4. Lactase – breaks down milk components so as to readily absorbed by the body. The components are protein, carbohydrates, fats and lactose. Low lactase level causes loose bowel movement as milk has lactose as its major content.
5. Cellulase – breaks down fibers into carbohydrates, after which amylase takes over to break down carbohydrates into sugars to be absorbed by the body.

Combination of microbes and enzymes produce formulations that when combined with manure and other biodegradable materials will result in organic fertilizers. Other combination results in the production of natural antibiotics, water based vitamins and minerals and beneficial bacteria for feed formulation. Microbes and enzymes encourage farmers to go organic and refrain from cultivating GMO (Genetically Modified) plants.

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