In the US, burger-and-milkshake chain Shake Shack has partnered with Zero Acre Farms, a startup developing a process to manufacture cooking oil via fermentation. The collaboration will see Shake Shack swap traditional soybean fry oil at two Manhattan locations—Hudson Yards and Battery Park City—with Zero Acre oil.
The move was announced during Climate Week NYC and closely follows a similar collaboration with fast-casual Mexican chain, Chipotle. According to Zero Acre, approximately a quarter of all agricultural land is used for vegetable oil crops. Zero Acre instead produces its oils using fast-growing sugarcane as feedstock.
“This partnership combines the deliciousness that Shake Shack is known for with the health and sustainability focus of Zero Acre, allowing diners to feel good with every bite,” said Jeff Nobbs, co-founder and CEO of Zero Acre Farms.
In February 2022, Zero Acre raised $37 million in an oversubscribed Series A round that included funds from Robert Downey Jr.’s FootPrint Coalition Ventures.