18 TIME June 6/June 13, 2022
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Dry soil, like the
one in this fi eld
in Brandenburg,
Germany,
increases the risk
of forest fi resWe forget
that soil is
the largest
living system
we know. It
is not dead
matter; it is
living earthWHEN PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD extinc-
tion, they invariably think of dinosaurs.
But we are now on the verge of soil
extinction—the greatest crisis of our
times.
Can soil ever turn extinct? Yes, it can. If
you remove organic content (in the form of plant litter and
animal waste) from soil, it turns into sand. This is called
desertifi cation. Conversely, if you add organic content to
sand, it becomes soil. Soil extinction may be a relatively
new term, but the process it describes has been unfolding
over the past 100 to 150 years because of unsustainable
agricultural practices. An acre of soil in the world is turning
into desert every second. This is a statistic with grave conse-
quences for all life on this planet.
The problem is that we treat soil as a mere resource,
an inert substance into which we can pump chemicals.
This is an unfortunate consequence of the fragmentation
of human consciousness. We forget that soil is the largest
living system we know. It is not dead matter; it is living
earth. A teaspoon of fertile soil can contain, in some cases,
more than 9 billion organisms. Nearly 60% of our body
is micro organisms; less than half is from our parental
genetics. If we were conscious of this, would we ever
embark on such wanton ecocide?
Ninety-fi ve percent of our food comes from soil. But
studies show a tragic depletion in the nutrient value of
vegetables worldwide. Americans are potassium- defi cient,
88% are defi cient in vitamin E, 67% in vitamin K, 52%
in magnesium, 43% in vitamin A, and 39% in vitamin C,
according to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
If this is true of the world’s most affl uent nation,
consider the state of the rest of the world! Acute soil
degradation contributes to lower crop yields—and even if
you eat enough, your food may be devoid of nourishment.
Research shows that some of the foods we grow are less
nutrient- dense than they once were. The result: impending
famine, future forced migrations, civil wars over food
security, and considerably weakened forthcoming
generations. How much longer before we awaken to the
urgency of the problem?
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK, “But what about other environmen-
tal issues?” They are certainly important, but soil condi-
tions are plummeting so rapidly that the problem could
spiral out of control. Addressing soil could alleviate many
other ecological issues, helping to reverse climate change
and water scarcity. If the ozone-layer problem has been
addressed with some success, it is because it was pursued
with a single-point agenda. The same needs to happen
with soil.
Our planet is sending
a new distress signal
By Sadhguru
Conscious Planet—Save Soil
is a global movement to change
the narrative around soil. I have
embarked on a crazy motorcycle
journey across 27 countries, covering
30,000 km in 100 days, to meet with
government leaders, infl uencers, and
the general public; raise awareness;
and recommend policy changes
that ensure a minimum of 3% to 6%
organic content in soil. The aim is to
inspire more than 3 billion people, or
60% of the adult population, to urge
their national leaders to support soil-
friendly policies.
At age 65, this expedition is no joy-
ride! But I know the importance of
staking one’s life to open doors. Re-
cently, I initiated two movements—
Rally for Rivers and Cauvery Calling—
that have galvanized the support of
162 million people toward revitaliz-
ing India’s rivers and promoting tree-
based agriculture. Individual eff orts
are commendable, but collective ac-
tion is clearly the need of the hour.
We have not lost the fi ght yet. But
we’re standing on the brink. If we act
now, we can initiate the necessary
policy changes and make a vital turn-
around in soil health in the next de-
cade. This is both a challenge and a
privilege. Let ours be the generation
that acted responsibly, that rescued the
planet from its wanton and tragic proj-
ect of self- sabotage. Save soil. Let us
make it happen.Sadhguru is a yogi and environmental
advocateTHE VIEW WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
PATRICK PLEUL—PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES; SADHGURU: AP