Danish Startup Decameal Turns Invasive Crabs into Sustainable Feed

Jan de Vries · 2026-05-01

A Danish food-tech company is turning an environmental problem into a business opportunity. Decameal, based in Grindsted, has developed a patent-pending process to convert invasive European shore crabs into sustainable protein and lipid ingredients for the feed industry. And now, they've secured a Seed round of funding to scale up. The investment comes from Delphinus Venture Capital and Rockstart, with strategic co-investor Aller Aqua also joining the round. The exact amount hasn't been disclosed, but it's a clear vote of confidence in a solution that tackles two big issues at once: an invasive species wreaking havoc on Nordic coastlines and the feed industry's urgent need for sustainable alternatives. ### The Problem: Invasive Crabs and an Unsustainable Feed Industry Here's the thing about European shore crabs: they've been spreading like crazy along Nordic coastlines for the past 30 years. These little guys destroy mussels, fish eggs, and marine plant life, throwing entire ecosystems out of balance. It's a real headache for coastal communities and fisheries. At the same time, the feed industry is under massive pressure to find sustainable alternatives to soy and fishmeal. Traditional feed ingredients come with a heavy environmental footprint, and the demand for eco-friendly options is growing fast. That's where Decameal comes in. ### How Decameal Turns Crabs into Feed Ingredients Decameal sources its crabs from small-scale coastal fisheries, turning an invasive pest into a valuable resource. The company uses a patent-pending extraction process to produce protein flour and protein concentrate. These ingredients are designed for poultry, aquaculture, and pet food markets. But they're not stopping there. Decameal is also developing chitin and chitosan extraction from the crab shells, targeting higher-value markets down the line. It's a smart, circular approach that maximizes the value of every crab. "The waste of crabs is a global issue, and that is exactly what makes it a real business opportunity," says Leander Hessner, CEO and co-founder. "If we can prove the model here in Denmark, we can roll it out to every part of the world." ### The Team Behind Decameal Founded in 2022 by Happylan Natkunarajah and Leander Hessner, Decameal has built a solid team. Natkunarajah leads production development, overseeing new methods and testing. Hessner handles administration, communications, and outreach, managing relationships with partners, projects, and customers. Mikkel Kongsfelt joined as a co-founder during the first funding round, taking charge of IP, funding, legal matters, and investor relations. In November 2022, Decameal received an "Innofounder" grant from Innovationsfonden, which allowed both original founders to work full-time on the venture. That early support was crucial for getting the company off the ground. ### Previous Funding and What's Next Last year, Decameal raised a pre-Seed round of about $760,000 (€700K) from private and corporate investors. They also secured a $1.52 million (€1.4 million) Green Demonstration and Development grant from Innovation Fund Denmark, in collaboration with DTU - Technical University of Denmark and Aller Aqua. Now, Decameal operates a pilot production facility in Grindsted, where protein extraction and production take place. They also have offices and laboratories at Agro Food Park in Aarhus. The new Seed funding will likely help them scale operations and expand their reach. ### Why This Matters for the Feed Industry The feed industry is at a crossroads. Soy and fishmeal are becoming less sustainable and more expensive. Decameal's approach offers a practical alternative that also helps solve an ecological problem. It's a win-win that investors are clearly excited about. Max Grünwald, Investment Associate at Delphinus Venture Capital, sums it up well: "There is something genuinely elegant about what Decameal is doing - taking a species that has been a coastal headache for decades and turning it into something valuable. That kind of thinking is exactly what we look for." With the new funding, Decameal is poised to prove that their model works. If successful, they could roll it out globally, turning invasive crabs into a sustainable feed ingredient that benefits everyone.