Truly Unlocking BLue Economy

Technology

Operating from our farming site in Germany and our polymer innovation subsidiary in Singapore, we valorize every bit of our aquaculture solution. We sustainably produce healthy meat, and turn shell waste from processing into high-purity chitin, and biodegradable plastics, using our proprietary solvent-free extraction and a production process designed for both environmental impact and market scalability.

Steady Aquaculuture

Aquaculture is emerging as a key driver of a more resilient, climate‑smart, and circular protein economy, but many current systems still depend on high levels of feed, energy, and antibiotics that create pollution and undermine sustainability. The challenge now is to scale aquaculture in ways that keep its benefits as a food and environmental solution while sharply reducing these resource-intensive, harmful practices.

Merall's Approach: Aquaculure Done Differently

Merall cultivates marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis), a self-cloning, robust freshwater species, in a low-impact, closed-loop system.

Our farming method is designed to optimize yield while minimizing environmental footprint:

No antibiotics or hormones
Low water and energy requirements
Efficient feed conversion
Locally farmed in Germany

Unlike conventional aquaculture species, marbled crayfish thrive in high-density recirculating systems and are uniquely suited for circular production models. In fact, our research confirms their ability to grow in closed environments with minimal requirements.

Locally Produced, Globally Relevant

By combining responsible aquaculture with a circular value chain, Merall delivers not only healthy food but also raw materials for sustainable bioplastics — all from a single species. Our model reduces dependence on imports, limits environmental harm, and supports EU goals for food resilience and climate neutrality.

As the UN Food and Agriculture's Oorganisation's “Blue Transformation” strategy emphasizes, the future of protein lies in resource-efficient, low-impact aquatic farming, and Merall is already making it happen.

Green Biorefinery

Merall’s green biorefinery is designed to turn underused shell waste into high-value chitin at scale, using cleaner processes that protect both product quality and the environment.

Solvent Free Exctraction, High Purity

At Merall, we extract high-purity chitin from marbled crayfish shells using a solvent-free, water-conserving process based on citric acid and potassium hydroxide, completely avoiding mineral acids and toxic organics.

Our proprietary method:

Uses no hazardous solvents or bleaches
Is scalable and energy-efficient
Delivers consistent, high-quality chitin with excellent functional properties

Unlike conventional methods, our technology preserves polymer integrity while minimizing waste and emissions, making it suitable for packaging, pharmaceutical, and biomaterials applications.

Closing the Loop on Shell Waste

Chitin is often seen as industrial residue, but Merall proves it can be the starting point for value creation. By upcycling crustacean shells from essentially ANY aquaculture system, we turn organic waste into clean, renewable material, while keeping supply chains short and transparent.

This is circular bioeconomy in practice: smart, scalable, and grounded in green chemistry.