• Sahil Jha smiling beside his green touring bicycle, holding a helmet with a Save Soil sticker, on a stone-paved street in the United Kingdom

Sahil Jha

Environmentalist, author and founder of the World Soil Organization

United Kingdom

Cover of Bonding with the Beyond by Sahil Jha: a boy with arms outstretched toward the light beside his bicycle, with the subtitle Journey of a teenage boy across 3 continents, alone on a bicycle

Author Bonding with the Beyond

Coming soon

About Sahil

Sahil Jha standing with his loaded touring bicycle outside a stone building

Sahil Jha is an environmentalist, author and the founder of the World Soil Organization. Born in Kolkata, he has spent his teenage years on a bicycle, carrying one message across borders: the health of our soil decides the future of our food, our water and life itself.

On 1 May 2022, at the age of 16, Sahil set out alone to cycle across India in support of the Save Soil movement inspired by Sadhguru, riding through 15 Indian states. On 21 March 2025 the journey went international, beginning in Australia and continuing through Asia Pacific and Europe. In all, he has cycled 20,000 km across 15 countries on 3 continents.

Along the way he has spoken at more than 325 events and been featured in over 473 media stories, and hundreds of leaders around the world have publicly supported his campaign. His work has been recognised by organisations and national governments internationally.

Sahil founded the World Soil Organization to turn a personal campaign into a lasting institution that works with governments and international bodies on soil health. His memoir, Bonding with the Beyond, tells the story of a teenage boy who crossed three continents alone on a bicycle.

The Journey

3 continents, 15 countries, 20,000 km

The route so far Route map of the cycling journey through India, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, France, United Kingdom. IndiaAustraliaNew ZealandIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysiaSwitzerlandGermanyPolandSwedenDenmarkNetherlandsBelgiumFranceUnited Kingdom SwitzerlandGermanyPolandSwedenDenmarkNetherlandsBelgiumFranceUnited Kingdom Europe (enlarged) 1 India 2 Asia Pacific 3 Europe
  1. 01

    India

    The journey begins · 1 May 2022

  2. 02

    Asia Pacific

    The international leg begins in Australia · 21 March 2025

    AustraliaNew ZealandIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysia

  3. 03

    Europe

    SwitzerlandGermanyPolandSwedenDenmarkNetherlandsBelgiumFranceUnited Kingdom

continents
3
cycled solo
20,000km
public speaking events
325+
media features
473+

  1. Raise soil organic matter to a minimum of 3–6% in farmland worldwide.

  2. Make soil health a global priority, with supportive policies in every country.

  3. Make regenerative, soil-friendly farming the most rewarding choice for every farmer.

Bright desert sand on the left meeting a dense green pine forest on the right, under a blue sky, at the Dune du Pilat in France
Sand on one side, living forest on the other. Healthy soil decides which one spreads.

  1. Six photographs of Save Soil awareness events led by Sahil Jha, each with hundreds of school and college students, some holding Save Soil placards

    Awareness

    Talks at schools, colleges and universities, social media, well-known voices, and walkathons and cyclothons that carry the story of soil to billions.

  2. Sahil Jha in conversation with officials, seated in front of Indonesian flags

    Policy advocacy

    Petitions, letters and meetings with leaders to advocate for and win soil-friendly policies and investment in soil.

  3. Sahil Jha planting rice seedlings in a flooded paddy field with local officials and farmers

    On the ground, across the world

    Helping farmers shift to natural, regenerative and tree-based farming, planting trees, running workshops, building farmer communities and opening access to carbon credits.

Meetings & Voices of Support

  • Sahil Jha with Dr Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram

    Impressed to meet @withsahiljha, a 16-year-old from WestBengal, who is cycling 25,000 km through India to raise awareness of environmental &social issues. He is now in Thiruvananthapuram on his way back up north from Kanyakumari.Have to admire his spirit of adventure!

    Shashi Tharoor Former UN Under-Secretary-General, Former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs & bestselling author via X (opens the original post in a new tab)
  • Sahil Jha with Sadhguru in front of the Adiyogi statue at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore

    Dearest Sahil, with your Passion and Devotion for Humanity, you have paved the way for a brighter future for our Nation and planet. May you continue to touch the hearts of all those you encounter along the way. My best wishes & Blessings. -Sg

    Sadhguru Founder, Isha Foundation & Conscious Planet, Save Soil Movement via X (opens the original post in a new tab)
  • Sahil Jha in a Save Soil T-shirt with C. R. Patil in Surat

    17 year old Sahil Jha has been travelling across different states of India on a bicycle for the past two years, spreading the message of environmental protection and #SAVESOIL. By engaging with the youth of the country and discussing their role in environmental protection, he is doing important work to raise awareness about environmental conservation. Young people like Sahil are the future of our country. It was a great pleasure to meet Sahil today in Surat. Wishing Sahil all the very best.

    C. R. Patil Union Minister for Water (Jal Shakti), Government of India via Instagram (opens the original post in a new tab)
  • Ibrahim Thiaw speaking at the United Nations

    Go, Sahil! You have my full support!

    Ibrahim Thiaw Former UN Under-Secretary-General & Executive Secretary of the UNCCD via X (opens the original post in a new tab)
  • Sahil Jha with Philipp Ackermann in front of the EU, Indian and German flags

    Today is World Soil Day - worthwhile remembering how crucial healthy soils are for our livelihoods. I had a chat with @soilsahiljha, who is on a global biking tour to create awareness about soil health. He told that he saw one of the world’s greenest cities in Germany! 🌍🌱

    Philipp Ackermann Former Ambassador of Germany to India via X (opens the original post in a new tab)
  • Sahil Jha with Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen in front of a “Cycle for Sustainability” mural

    A pleasure meeting Sahil Jha @soilsahiljha, a young Indian cyclist who has journeyed over 25,000 km worldwide, including Denmark, engaging communities on soil health and environmental awareness. Youth leadership matters, and his commitment is inspiring. Wishing him success as he continues his global ride for the cause in 2026 🚴

    Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen Ambassador of Denmark to India via X (opens the original post in a new tab)
  • Sahil Jha showing his Save Soil helmet and bicycle to Kerry McCarthy
    Kerry McCarthy British MP and Former Minister for Climate
  • Sahil Jha in conversation with Arif Havas Oegroseno in front of Indonesian flags
    Arif Havas Oegroseno Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
  • Sahil Jha and Mete Coban holding Save Soil cards at a café table
    Mete Coban MBE Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy

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