Butter made from CO2, not cows? That’s the buzz around Savor, the California-based startup generating a whirlwind of excitement, especially with Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates in its corner.
Promising a dairy-free butter with a lower carbon footprint and a taste that rivals the real thing, Savor is capturing headlines and imaginations alike.
But with all this hype, the question lingers: is this just another glorified margarine, or is Savor’s innovation truly groundbreaking?
The Environmental Toll of Dairy and Meat
Savor’s mission to create sustainable fats is crucial in the context of the environmental toll of dairy and meat production.
Reducing meat and dairy consumption is essential for combating climate change. The livestock industry, encompassing all dairy and meat farming, is a major contributor to greenhouse gases.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock production accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and this number is only increasing as global consumption rises. The environmental cost of sustaining this industry is immense, making the search for sustainable alternatives more urgent than ever.
Savor’s approach is promising in this context.
The Guardian reports that their “butter” could come in at less than 0.8g CO2 equivalent per calorie, compared to the standard climate footprint of real unsalted butter, which is approximately 2.4g CO2 equivalent per calorie. This substantial reduction underscores Savor’s potential to help mitigate climate change.
Butter: A Healthier Option?
Butter has long been criticized for its health implications. Harvard Medical School highlights that butter is high in saturated fats, contributing to heart disease.
Consequently, health experts generally recommend using butter sparingly, spurring the search for healthier alternatives. Savor’s unique production method offers a promising option that could be both healthier and more sustainable.
What Exactly is Savor?
Savor is on a mission to create animal-free fats that taste and perform like the real thing. As Bill Gates details in his blog, Gates Notes, Savor’s process involves capturing carbon dioxide from the air and combining it with hydrogen from water.
By heating and oxidizing these elements, Savor produces fatty acids that are chemically identical to those found in animal products. This innovative method promises to deliver the rich flavors and textures of traditional fats without the environmental drawbacks.
Savor vs. Margarine: A Key Difference
Margarine, often seen as a butter substitute, is typically made from vegetable oils that are partially hydrogenated to create a spreadable consistency. However, margarine has its own issues, including the presence of trans fats, which are linked to various health problems.
Savor, on the other hand, isn’t just another margarine. It uses a groundbreaking process to produce real fat molecules from non-animal sources, promising better taste and functionality than traditional margarine.
Savor’s potential advantages are significant. It’s better for cooking, offering the desired “mouthfeel” and performance of real butter without the health and environmental drawbacks. This makes it an exciting option for both home cooks and professional chefs looking for a sustainable and tasty alternative.
The Future of Savor
Savor has ambitious plans, including the development of animal-free milk, ice cream, cheese, and even meat.
Kathleen Alexander, Savor’s chief executive, told The Guardian, “We are currently pre-commercial and working through regulatory approval to be able to sell our butter. We are not expecting to be able to move forward with any kind of sales until at least 2025.” She also mentioned that the company has conducted informal taste panels and plans to conduct more formal testing as part of their commercialization efforts.
The Hurdles Ahead
However, the real challenge lies in getting consumers to embrace synthetic fats. As Gates points out, people are naturally inclined to crave animal fats due to their nutrient density and taste. Overcoming this hurdle will require convincing consumers that lab-made fats can be just as satisfying and delicious.
While Savor’s innovative butter might initially seem like just another fancy margarine, it is far from it. By leveraging cutting-edge technology to produce real fat molecules from sustainable sources, Savor offers a promising alternative to traditional animal fats.
The future looks bright for Savor as they continue to develop their product line and work towards regulatory approval. If they can succeed in bringing their products to market, Savor could play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of our food system while satisfying our cravings for rich, delicious fats.
