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§ Private Profile · San Francisco, CA, USA
Zero Acre Farms is a technology company.
Zero Acre Farms develops high-performance cooking oils and fats through microbial fermentation. Their core product is a novel fermented oil, offering a healthier and more sustainable alternative to conventional seed oils. This innovative process uses microorganisms to convert plant sugars into fats, yielding a versatile ingredient for various culinary applications.
The company was co-founded by Jeff Nobbs, who serves as CEO. Nobbs, an entrepreneur with a background in food and tech, recognized the health and environmental drawbacks of traditional vegetable oils. His insight was to leverage biotechnology to create superior fats, establishing a new category of sustainable dietary ingredients.
Zero Acre Farms targets professional chefs and health-conscious consumers seeking better culinary options. Its vision is to fundamentally transform the food industry by providing sustainable, healthy fats and oils. The company aims to replace ubiquitous, less healthful alternatives, fostering a food system prioritizing both planetary and human well-being.
Zero Acre Farms has raised $37.0M across 1 funding round.
Zero Acre Farms has raised $37.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Zero Acre Farms has raised $37.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $37.0M Series A in February 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2022 | $37M Series A | Fifty Years, Lowercarbon Capital | Andrew Weil, DAN Barber, Richard Branson, Collaborative Fund, Robert Downey JR., S2G Ventures, Virgin | Announced |
Zero Acre Farms has raised $37.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Zero Acre Farms's investors include Fifty Years, Lowercarbon Capital, Andrew Weil, Dan Barber, Richard Branson, Collaborative Fund, Robert Downey Jr., S2G Ventures.
Zero Acre Farms is a technology-driven food company that produces a novel cooking oil made through microbial fermentation, offering a healthier and more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional vegetable oils. Their flagship product, Zero Acre oil, features a high smoke point, neutral taste, and more heart-healthy fats than olive oil, targeting both restaurant and home kitchens to replace seed oils with a cleaner, less greasy option that reduces environmental impact[1][3][4].
Founded in 2020 in San Mateo, California, Zero Acre Farms was co-founded by Jeff Nobbs (CEO), Stephen del Cardayre (CTO), and Jay Keasling, a UC Berkeley professor. The idea emerged from the founders’ desire to solve the health and environmental problems caused by widespread use of seed oils. Leveraging fermentation technology, they developed a scalable process to produce oil from microbes, akin to brewing beer but yielding oil instead of ethanol. Early traction includes raising over $40 million from investors such as Virgin Group, Lowercarbon Capital, and Chipotle, and launching their product to market with strategic manufacturing partnerships[1][2][4].
Zero Acre Farms rides the growing trend of sustainable food technology and precision fermentation, addressing urgent global challenges such as climate change, deforestation, and chronic health issues linked to seed oils. The timing aligns with increasing consumer demand for clean-label, health-conscious, and environmentally friendly food products. By pioneering fermentation-based oils, Zero Acre Farms influences the food ecosystem by offering scalable alternatives that could disrupt traditional agricultural supply chains and reduce environmental degradation[2][4].
Zero Acre Farms is poised to expand its market presence beyond direct-to-consumer sales into restaurants and packaged foods, supported by ongoing funding rounds and manufacturing scale-up. Future trends shaping their journey include rising regulatory and consumer pressure on sustainable food production and health-driven eating habits. Their influence may grow as they set new standards for cooking oils, potentially catalyzing broader adoption of fermentation-derived food ingredients and fostering innovation in sustainable food tech[2][4].
In summary, Zero Acre Farms combines biotechnology and food innovation to create a cooking oil that is healthier for people and better for the planet, positioning itself as a transformative player in the future of sustainable food systems.