In today's episode of “Business with Impact”, we cross borders to meet Natan Jacquemin, an international alumnus of CATÓLICA-LISBON’s Master’s program. Natan made Portugal his home, where he founded NÃM Mushrooms, a company committed to transforming coffee grounds into edible mushrooms, championing a circular and sustainable economy.
Originally from Brussels, Natan’s passion for economics led him to CATÓLICA-LISBON, where he pursued a Master’s in Economics with the goal of creating a business rooted in the circular economy. This ambition materialized in 2018 when he founded NÃM Mushrooms, an urban farm company that recycles coffee grounds into mushrooms and fertilizers.
With Delta Cafés as both an investor and supplier of coffee grounds, Natan emphasizes that his company emerged from the vision to convert waste into an economic resource. “This waste is not just trash,” he explains. “After brewing, coffee grounds remain rich in clean nutrients, thanks to the boiling water used in the process, which eliminates impurities. And what can grow from this waste? Mushrooms—the only crop that thrives on it."
In Portugal, over 150 restaurants, including major names like “A Padaria Portuguesa” and “Lupita Pizzaria”, have adopted NÃM Mushrooms. “Although we sell directly to individuals, especially during the Christmas season, 95% of our customers come from the restaurant sector,” Natan shares.
Natan describes his business as “different but competitive.” When addressing climate and environmental challenges, he asserts, “Sustainability is no joke. People need to realize that ecology comes with a cost. One of our greatest challenges is maintaining high production quality while staying competitive, keeping our prices aligned with the market."
Proud of the progress he’s made, Natan acknowledges that there’s still a long road ahead in sustainability: “There’s resistance due to the state of the economy, and despite progress, especially post-pandemic, sustainability is not yet a priority—it’s still viewed as a trend. True success will come when sustainability is seen as a necessity."
With a factory in Odivelas, Natan’s next objective is to turn NÃM into one of the most sustainable production facilities globally, focusing not only on producing mushrooms from coffee grounds but also on incorporating eco-friendly practices throughout the entire process, such as using clean energy and recycling water.
In the medium term, NÃM Mushrooms aims to maintain strong local impact while growing sustainably.