California-based startup Savor is whipping up a storm with its revolutionary take on butter. Ditch the mooing cows and sprawling pastures – Savor’s “butter” boasts a far more unconventional source: the air itself. Backed by tech titan Bill Gates, the company is pioneering a new generation of dairy-free alternatives that not only minimise environmental impact but, crucially, deliver the taste and texture we all know and love.
Bill Gates-Backed Startup, Savor, Creates Butter From Air
The secret sauce behind Savor’s innovation lies in a clever thermochemical process. This method breaks down the very building blocks of fat – carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen – and then reassembles them into molecules that mimic real butter. The environmental benefits are undeniable. Traditional butter production leaves a hefty carbon footprint behind. In stark contrast, Savor’s creation boasts a minuscule 0.8 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilogramme. This stands in stark comparison to the staggering 16.9 kilogrammes of CO2 associated with a single kilogramme of conventional butter.
As per a report by Hindustan Times, Kathleen Alexander, the CEO of Savor, said that the company was currently in the process of working through the regulatory requirements to bring their product to market. While sales aren’t expected to kick off before 2025, the company has already conducted informal taste tests with dozens of participants, receiving positive feedback. Formal taste panels are planned as part of their commercialisation efforts.
A Multi-Pronged Advantage
Bill Gates himself has emerged as a vocal champion of the initiative. In a recent blog post, he enthusiastically highlights the potential of lab-made fats to revolutionise our environmental impact. Bill Gates wrote in his blog post that this technology utilises existing processes to accelerate our progress towards achieving climate goals.
But sustainability isn’t the only feather in Savor’s cap. According to Gates, the process offers a multi-pronged advantage. It eliminates greenhouse gas emissions entirely, requires no dedicated farmland, and uses a mere fraction of the water compared to traditional agriculture. Perhaps most importantly, Bill Gates assured consumers that taste wouldn’t be a concern. He went on to say that, according to the science, the product was chemically identical to real butter, and therefore tasted just as good.
Savor’s innovation has the potential to shake the very foundations of the dairy industry. With its laser focus on sustainability and unwavering commitment to taste, this “butter” from the air could soon find its way onto breakfast tables everywhere. The company’s vision extends far beyond butter. Experiments are already underway to create dairy-free alternatives for ice cream, cheese, and even milk.