About Decameal
Decameal is a Danish foodtech company developing a process to convert invasive shore crabs into sustainable protein ingredients for the feed industry.
About Decameal
Decameal is a Danish foodtech company converting invasive shore crabs into high-quality protein and lipid ingredients for the feed industry. By developing an extraction process that transforms an ecologically harmful species into a traceable, locally sourced raw material, Decameal addresses two distinct challenges simultaneously: the ecological damage caused by overpopulated shore crabs along coastlines, and the growing demand for sustainable, non-imported protein alternatives in aquaculture, poultry and pet food production.
The European shore crab has expanded significantly over the past three decades, driven by overfishing of larger predatory species and excess nutrient release in coastal regions. The result is widespread destruction of local mussels, fish eggs and marine plant life, with limited commercial interest in using the species. Decameal turns this overlooked biomass into a valuable resource by sourcing crabs from small-scale coastal fisheries and processing them into protein flour and protein concentrate suited for the feed sector. Early trials have shown improved egg quality in hens and promising results in aquaculture applications, with pet food trials ongoing. Beyond protein, Decameal is developing processes to retreieve compounds with applications spanning cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biomaterials.
Decameal operates as a B2B ingredient company, founded by the two friends Leander Hessner and Happylan Natkunarajah. The team combines expertise in aquatic biology, extraction process development with an unmatched passion for the preservation of the oceans.
Key facts
- Danish foodtech company
- Developing extraction process producing protein flour and protein concentrate
- Turning invasive biomass into valuable resource
- Pilot facility operational; first commercial sales targeted in 2025/2026
- Targeting feed producers, aquaculture companies and pet food manufacturers
Team
- Leander Hessner, CEO & Co-founder
- Happylan Natkunarajah, CTO & Co-founder
- Mikkel Skorkjær Kongsfelt, Head of Business Development & IP
- Peter Slemming-Adamsen, Head of Extraction and Experimental Development