Bill Gates backed Californian food tech startup Savor has launched its farm-free, carbon-based butter, which will appear on Michelin-starred menus this year, ahead of a Series B funding round.
Ingredient innovator Savor has introduced a revolutionary type of butter created not from animals or plants, but from basic elements—carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen—ushering in a new wave of sustainable fats designed to cut emissions, boost resilience, and redefine food manufacturing.
Unveiled at Future Food-Tech in San Francisco, Savor’s carbon-based butter has already been tested in high-end kitchens, including those of Michelin-starred restaurants and renowned bakeries. The product delivers the rich texture and functionality chefs expect from traditional butter—minus the environmental footprint.
“Butter is every chef’s best friend,” said Chiara Cecchini, VP of Commercialization at Savor. “It’s the perfect showcase for our technology, which builds custom fats from molecular components.”
From Air to Ingredient: The Science Behind Savor
Using captured carbon dioxide, green hydrogen, and methane, Savor assembles fatty acids and triglycerides in a proprietary process that mimics the performance of cocoa butter, lard, tallow, and plant oils—all without agricultural inputs. The result: fats with up to 70% lower carbon emissions, tailored for everything from chocolate bonbons to croissants.
The company’s flexible B2B2C strategy involves joint development agreements with CPG brands and foodservice leaders, enabling rapid entry into both markets with customizable, high-performance fats.
Production and Regulatory Milestones
Savor recently opened a 25,000-square-foot pilot production facility in Batavia, Illinois, capable of scaling output to industrial levels. Simultaneously, its San Jose R&D hub is expanding collaborations with consumer brands and chefs.
On the regulatory front, Savor has self-affirmed GRAS status and is seeking a “no questions” letter from the FDA, with plans to pursue global approvals thereafter.
A Radical Climate Company with Global Impact
Savor positions itself as a “radical climate company”, targeting the food industry’s heavy footprint—specifically fats and oils, which contribute roughly 7% of global GHG emissions. By eliminating deforestation-heavy crops like palm oil and tropical cocoa, the company aims to relieve pressure on strained supply chains and respond to geopolitical shocks, such as sunflower oil shortages due to the Ukraine war.
“We don’t expect palm or cocoa to disappear,” Cecchini added, “but with shrinking supply and rising demand, someone has to help fill the gap. We believe we are that someone.”
As pressure mounts on food manufacturers to align with climate goals and avoid ingredients with harmful social or ecological impact, Savor’s carbon-derived fats could provide a scalable, ethical, and climate-positive solution.
