Emulsion-based microparticles containing a biological or chemical agent. The methods include production of emulsion-based microparticles containing a biological or chemical agent. The usefulness of the present invention is that the methods of the present invention provide for the production of forming emulsion-based microparticles that provides a narrow, reproducible, particle size distribution, capable of use with both large and small volumes that is capable of being conveniently scaled up while providing predictable emulsion properties.