A California-based startup company in the United States has announced that they have developed a method to produce butter using carbon dioxide and water, completely eliminating the need for cows. The taste of this butter is said to be comparable to traditional butter, and this innovation aims to reduce carbon footprint, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and combat global warming.
According to a report from The Guardian on July 16, with the support of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, the company known as Savor has been focusing on developing non-dairy alternatives for ice cream, cheese, and milk.
By utilizing a thermochemical process to construct fat molecules and form bonds between carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen, the company is able to produce dairy-free butter as a substitute for traditional butter without using any dairy products.
In a previous blog post endorsing the company, Bill Gates mentioned, “This process does not release any greenhouse gases, does not require farmland, and uses less than one-thousandth of the water of traditional agriculture. Most importantly, it tastes really good – just like the real thing, because, chemically speaking, it is the real thing.”
Reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products is considered a key method for humans to lessen their environmental impact, as livestock farming is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization shows that livestock farming (including all dairy and meat agriculture) accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Savor has stated that the carbon footprint of the “butter” they produce is significantly lower than that of traditional butter. The carbon dioxide equivalent per calorie of this “butter” may be less than 0.8 grams, while genuine unsalted butter with 80% fat has a carbon dioxide equivalent of 2.4 grams per calorie.
CEO Kathleen Alexander mentioned that the company is currently preparing for commercialization and seeking approval from regulatory authorities to sell this butter. It is expected that any form of sales will not be available until at least 2025.
In recent years, alternative options for meat and dairy products have become increasingly popular, but some have fallen short in terms of taste. Savor claims that their “butter” closely resembles the real deal in terms of flavor.
The current challenge lies in whether consumers will accept this synthetic fat. Convincing people to give up their favorite dairy and meat products in favor of more “experimental” foods may pose a challenge.
In conclusion, Bill Gates expressed his hope for the success of Savor. “By leveraging proven technology and processes, we are one step closer to achieving climate goals.”