WHILE most young people his age are focused on tertiary education and planning their future careers, 19-year-old Sahil Jha has chosen a different path.
The teenager from Kolkata, West Bengal, is currently on a 20,000km cycling mission across four continents and 20 countries to raise awareness about the global soil crisis and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Sahil began his 15-month-long journey in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, in March this year, representing the Conscious Planet – Save Soil Movement. He arrived in Penang a few days ago after cycling through New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. He has since flown out to continue his journey through Europe this summer, with stops planned in Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom, before ultimately completing his mission in the United States.
Why the urgency?
“I did some extensive research and found that one report states that in the next 25 years, 90 per cent of the world’s agricultural soil is expected to be degraded. That means we won’t be able to grow food — or at least not healthy food — from that soil,” Sahil said in an interview with Buletin Mutiara recently.
“On top of that, it’s projected that we’ll be producing 40% less food for the population by 2050. This is alarming, and the warnings are coming from top authorities and soil scientists around the world. We need to sit up and take notice. The problem is, most people don’t even know this is happening. But to fix a problem, you first have to know it exists.”
In Penang, Sahil was accompanied by three Malaysian volunteers of the Save Soil Movement – Tan Seng Chye, Cheh Kuan Foo, and Ang Kew Leok – who helped facilitate his interviews and outreach programmes during his visit.
Sahil believes that soil health is intrinsically linked to the physical and mental well-being of today’s generation, especially among youth.
“As 95% of our food comes from the soil, the nutritional quality of what we eat depends directly on soil health,” he explained. “When we use excessive amounts of chemical inputs like pesticides, insecticides and herbicides, we are literally destroying the biodiversity of microorganisms living in the soil. When they die, the soil dies.
“It is said that one teaspoon of healthy organic soil can contain more microorganisms than the entire human population on Earth.”
When asked what inspired him to embark on this mission, Sahil credited Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru, who launched the Save Soil Movement in 2022 by riding a motorcycle from London through Europe, the Middle East, and India. At the age of 65, Sadhguru completed more than 13,000 miles in 100 days.
“I thought, why would someone risk his life at that age? What was this issue all about?” Sahil recalled. “At the time, I was just 16, and I told myself I should be doing something too. That’s when I decided to ride a bicycle across India for 15 continuous months.”
After completing his matriculation examinations, Sahil did not inform his family about his plans until after he had already set off. Shocked, his parents tried every possible way to persuade him to return, offering gifts, enlisting relatives to intervene, and even threatening to involve the police. But nothing could deter him.
“Initially, they cried when I refused to give up. It took them a few days to come to terms with my mission. Now, they support me and say they’re proud of me for doing something meaningful for the people,” he said.
Now on a global campaign, Sahil aims to influence policymakers in every country he visits to take action in support of soil health. He also advocates for long-term investment and research into enhancing soil biodiversity.
One unforgettable experience during his journey happened near Adelaide, where he faced strong headwinds.
“The winds were about 40km per hour. Although I was cycling up a bit of an incline, I was going backwards! For a few seconds, it felt like cycling on the same spot — like being on a fitness bicycle,” he said with a smile.
Sahil’s mission is supported by crowdfunding and the generosity of Save Soil volunteers around the world. Along the way, he has engaged with communities, met national leaders, and spoken at over 200 schools, colleges, and universities, educating thousands about the importance of soil.
Among the prominent figures he has met are Yaz Mubarakai, Minister for Commerce, Western Australia; Mark Bain, Deputy Mayor of the City of Canning; Ella Ernst, Second Secretary at the New Zealand Embassy in Singapore; Ambassador Tamara Villanueva from the Embassy of Chile in Singapore; Senator Shri Gusti Arya Wedakarna in Bali; and Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno in Jakarta.
During his recent stop in Penang, Sahil met Seberang Perai City Council Mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid and visited two primary schools – SJKT Sungai Ara and SKJC Shih Chung Cawangan – to continue spreading his message of soil conservation.
Malaysian volunteer Tan Seng Chye emphasised the importance of raising awareness before it’s too late for any meaningful remediation.
“The Save Soil Movement is about creating awareness and supporting the regeneration of healthy soil at the state, national, and global levels,” Tan said.
He suggested that governments could expedite the impact by subsidising organic farmers or awarding them organic certification. This, he believes, would help make organic produce more affordable and widely consumed.
“Healthy soil is a powerful solution to many of today’s challenges. It can sequester up to 25% of CO₂ emissions, cool ambient temperatures, and help prevent flash floods and create resilience to severe droughts. Crucially, it also supports the production of nutrient-dense food — key to tackling malnutrition, obesity, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and many chronic illnesses that affect our society,” Tan said.
“With healthy soil, we get food that strengthens our bodies, immune systems, and brain function. It keeps us energised and prevents overeating.
“Unknowingly, we are eating nutrition-deficient food daily, such as fast food, junk food, and highly processed food. Even our fresh fruits and vegetables are seriously nutrient deficient these days because farmers use chemical fertilisers and pesticides to grow them. The chemicals degrade the soil, and we consume micro quantities of the chemicals daily. In short, we don’t have nutritious food unless they are grown in healthy soil.”
Sahil has shown extraordinary courage and determination in cycling solo across the globe to raise awareness about the soil crisis. His mission, supported by dedicated volunteers like those in Malaysia, stands as a shining example of youth activism in action and a call to protect one of Earth’s most precious resources.
What a noble effort by a teenager and the many hands behind the Save Soil Movement.
For more info about Save Soil Movement, please visit: savesoil.org
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting and courtesy of Save Soil Movement