Renowned Indian spiritual leader and environmental advocate Sadhguru has delivered a vital message to Americans following Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory, emphasizing the crucial importance of soil health.
Currently attending COP29, the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sadhguru is fervently advocating for global soil rejuvenation, highlighting alarming statistics from his Save Soil initiative that reveal over 52 percent of the world’s soil has succumbed to degradation.
He cautions Americans about the potential “grave mistake” of neglecting soil health, articulating how its deterioration leads to severe repercussions, including diminished livelihoods for farmers, reduced nutritional quality in food, and even increased migration pressures.
However, the spiritual leader acknowledges that, in the aftermath of the election, Americans are likely to prioritize economic issues over ecological concerns. This is particularly concerning given Trump’s historical stance against stringent environmental regulations. According to an analysis by The New York Times, his previous presidency saw the reversal, revocation, or rollback of over 100 environmental protections.
Sadhguru at COP29 in Baku in November 2024. The spiritual leader wants Americans to reflect deeply on the health of their soil.
Sadhguru at COP29 in Baku in November 2024. The spiritual leader wants Americans to reflect deeply on the health of their soil.
SavSoil
Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s team via email seeking a response to Sadhguru’s critical remarks.
“Regardless of whether it’s President Trump or any democratically elected official, if they propose lowering the standards of living for their nation, they jeopardize their position; this holds true for leaders worldwide,” Sadhguru remarked in an interview with Newsweek.
“Currently, in the United States, people are facing economic difficulties that make maintaining their accustomed lifestyles challenging,” he explained. “The recent election results reflect this urgent desire for leadership that can resolve these economic issues.”
Soil Is the ‘Foundation of Life’
Sadhguru passionately argues that the health of soil surpasses discussions surrounding fuel prices, as it stands at the very foundation of life itself.
“Soil is the largest living system, not only on Earth but in the known universe, hosting trillions of diverse organisms,” he elaborated, emphasizing its critical role. “This living system forms the bedrock of existence for all life on our planet.”
“Every living being on Earth ultimately traces its roots back to microbial life, which serves as the foundation of our existence,” he warned, highlighting the pressing concern of “soil extinction,” a phenomenon that is increasingly becoming a reality.
Despite these alarming warnings, Sadhguru believes that people will only prioritize ecological issues once they feel financially secure; right now, many Americans perceive themselves to be in an economic crisis.
He expressed hope that Trump, with his background in business, may guide the country towards economic stability, thereby enabling conversations about environmental concerns to gain traction.
Sadhguru’s “fundamental mission” is to harmonize the relationship between economy and ecology, arguing that should they conflict, economic interests will invariably overshadow ecological ones, leading to dire consequences for the planet.
How is Soil Degradation Impacting Americans?
In the near term, Sadhguru asserts that soil rejuvenation will become most apparent in its positive effects on the nutritional quality of the food consumed by Americans. This issue ties directly to persistent immigration debates, which emerged as a critical topic among voters during the presidential campaign.
He pointed out, “While the cost of food continues to rise, its nutritional value is plummeting. For instance, in the 1920s, consuming one orange from California provided substantial nourishment. Today, to achieve the same nutritional benefit, one would need to consume eight oranges.”
Sadhguru emphasized the link between soil health and migration patterns, suggesting that individuals would be less inclined to leave their homeland if they could sustainably cultivate food and thrive in their own communities. “If the soil were rich and people could reliably support themselves through agriculture, why would they risk traveling with their families under harsh conditions to unknown lands where they lack the skills or language to survive?” he queried.
Addressing the Issue
According to Sadhguru, just as regulations dictate construction standards on personal properties, there should be legal stipulations that ensure “any agricultural landowner maintains a minimum of 3 percent organic content.” This threshold is recognized by the United Nations as essential for soil classification.
“Unfortunately, not a single nation has achieved a minimum average of 3 percent organic content across its agricultural lands,” lamented Sadhguru. North-western Europe leads with an average of 2.4 percent, while the United States lags behind with merely 1.2 percent.
Sadhguru attributes these disappointing figures to the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers, commenting, “When we first discovered fertilizers, we reacted like children in a candy store, excited and oblivious to the long-term implications.”
He analogized, “Imagine if we consumed a healthy diet, yet something felt lacking; instead of addressing the deficiency, we opted for pills as a solution. Initially, it seemed like a miracle, but eventually, we neglected our nutritional needs altogether. This is precisely what has occurred in agriculture; we’ve replaced organic content with chemicals, forgetting the fundamental importance of soil health.”
What actions can individuals take to support soil health in their communities following the recent election?
**Interview with Sadhguru: Advocating for Soil Health in a Post-Election America**
**Newsweek:** Sadhguru, thank you for joining us at COP29. Following the recent electoral victory by Donald Trump, you’ve emphasized the importance of soil health. Can you elaborate on why you believe this issue should be a priority for Americans right now?
**Sadhguru:** Thank you for having me. Soil is not just dirt; it is the foundation of life on our planet. Over 52 percent of the world’s soil has degraded, and this degradation has profound implications for agriculture, food quality, and ultimately our economic stability. If Americans choose to neglect soil health, they risk jeopardizing not only their livelihoods but also the very fabric of life—nutritional quality of food and even migration pressures due to food insecurity.
**Newsweek:** You’ve pointed out that many Americans are currently focused on economic issues due to challenging financial circumstances. How does that influence their perception of ecological concerns?
**Sadhguru:** It’s understandable. When people are in survival mode, they prioritize immediate economic stability. I believe that only once they feel secure in their circumstances will they turn their attention to critical issues like soil health. The challenge lies in the fact that economic strategies that undermine ecological integrity will ultimately lead us to a crisis, which we are already experiencing.
**Newsweek:** You mentioned the historical context of Trump’s environmental policies. How do you see his leadership influencing the conversation around ecology moving forward?
**Sadhguru:** Regardless of the political backdrop, if leaders propose measures that undermine essential living standards, they will lose the trust of their people. Trump’s business background could provide an opportunity to guide the nation toward economic stability, which I hope will foster a conducive environment for ecological discussions. It’s crucial for us to harmonize the relationship between economy and ecology; if we don’t, we face dire consequences.
**Newsweek:** You highlight a significant point regarding the nutritional quality of food. Can you explain how soil health impacts what Americans are consuming?
**Sadhguru:** Absolutely. The decline in soil quality directly affects our food supply. For example, in the past, consuming one orange could provide substantial nourishment. Today, you would need to eat eight oranges to get the same nutrients. This deterioration is a direct consequence of soil degradation, and it has vast implications not just for health but also for economic stability and the ongoing immigration discourse, as people will migrate from areas unable to sustain them.
**Newsweek:** As a final thought, what is your fundamental message to American leaders and citizens as they navigate these dual challenges of economic difficulty and ecological health?
**Sadhguru:** I urge Americans to look beyond immediate economic pressures. We cannot afford to ignore soil health. It is the backbone of our existence. By nurturing our soil, we ensure our future prosperity and well-being. My hope is that we can build a strong coalition that places as much value on ecological health as we do on economic growth. After all, they are not mutually exclusive; they are deeply interconnected.