The life of bacteria is built around food. These micro-organisms don’t have traditional mouths to feed, but they eat, they digest and they excrete waste and they break down their food into its more elemental components to facilitate absorption. We need decay to break down dead matter into basic substances to provide nutrients for new plants, to feed our soil, and promote life.

Unlike bacteria, which are unicellular organisms the primary decomposer in many eco-systems is fungi and while bacteria are restricted to growing and feeding on the surfaces of organic matter, fungi can penetrate organic matter by releasing enzymes to break down the decaying material, after which it is absorbed as a natural nutrient.