Zero Acre’s Fermented Oil Alternative
Published 16 August 2022
With sunflower oil facing severe supply chain disruption following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and ongoing environmental issues swinging cooking oils into the spotlight, innovative brands are rushing to develop sustainable substitutes. Californian start-up Zero Acre has launched Cultured Oil – a planet- and people-friendly cooking fat alternative created through microbial fermentation.
Zero Acre starts with an oil culture comprised of microorganisms like non-genetically-modified yeast and microalgae. Natural plant sugars sourced from non-GMO, perennial sugarcane are fed to the culture, which ferments the sugars into healthy fats. This is then pressed after a few days, and the oil is released, separated and filtered.
Suitable for frying, roasting, sautéing and drizzling, the Cultured Oil boasts a neutral, “lightly buttery” taste, according to co-founder and chief executive Jeff Nobbs.
Vegetable oil crops take up around 20-30% of the world’s agricultural space (Our World in Data, 2020). Zero Acre’s alternative uses 85% less land than canola oil, releases 86% less carbon dioxide than soybean oil, and needs 99% less water than olive oil. It’s also packaged in an infinitely recyclable aluminium bottle.
Additionally, Cultured Oil has an appealing fatty acid profile for the health-conscious consumer, boasting more heart-friendly and heat-stable monosaturated fat than olive and avocado oils.
With a third of UK consumers willing to pay more for planet-friendly products (Simon-Kucher & Partners, 2021), Zero Acre’s Cultured Oil offers a healthier and more sustainable alternative to current cupboard staples.
Stylus members have access to more, full-length reporting. Get in touch to speak to someone from our team who can talk you through how a Stylus membership can help your brand harness this insight – and more.
