Food tech company Savor has launched a “cow-free” butter made by converting carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen gases into fat molecules nearly identical to those in dairy.
The startup, founded in 2022 and backed by Bill Gates, uses a thermochemical process to synthesize the butter, the end product being an edible spread that mimics the dairy-based version.
Alkanes synthesized in the process are transformed into fatty acids and triglycerides that match the taste, texture, and cooking performance of traditional butter.
As of 2025, Savor has supplied pilot batches of the butter to individual shops and restaurants.
Savor targeting commerical availability in 2027
In an interview with CBS, Savor’s Kathleen Alexander said that while commercial availability is one of the company’s goals, interested parties shouldn’t expect to see it on store shelves until “around 2027.”
Savor receives investment from Bill Gates, who has tried the butter.The company claims its butter cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 percent compared to dairy while also avoiding the environmental impact of livestock, palm oil, and large-scale farming.
Alexander says making fat directly from carbon gases allows Savor to bypass agriculture entirely. And, with the company’s 25,000 square foot facility in Illinois up and running, mass production is now possible.
Bill Gates first commented on Savor’s buttery efforts in a 2024 blog post, stating, “I’ve tasted Savor’s products, and I couldn’t believe I wasn’t eating real butter. The real challenge is to drive down the price so that products like Savor’s become affordable to the masses.”
