Bill Gates-Backed Startup Develops Carbon-Based Butter, Commercial Release Expected 2027

A Bill Gates-backed startup named Savor is pioneering a sustainable 'carbon butter' made from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen gases instead of cows, crops, or oils. Using a thermochemical process at their Illinois facility, Savor synthesizes fat molecules nearly identical to those in dairy butter, creating a product that looks, tastes, and cooks like traditional butter but with a significantly smaller environmental footprint. The company claims this method reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 60% compared to traditional dairy farming and bypasses the need for farmland, fertilizers, and animal agriculture. Savor has already supplied pilot batches to restaurants, including Michelin-starred kitchens, and plans broader retail availability around 2027, with chocolates made from the butter expected by the 2025 holiday season. Bill Gates praised the product's taste and potential to reduce global emissions related to fats and oils production, emphasizing the importance of making it affordable for mass consumption. Despite some online skepticism about its novelty and safety, the innovation is seen as a promising step toward sustainable food production.