»	KEEP UP TO DATE
	You can receive free email news updates on issues like animal welfare, GM and pesticides, with suggestions for how to take action. To join the email list, register here and tick the 'send me organic news email digests' box. If you've already registered, just login then click 'amend profile'.

»	THE GREAT ORGANIC MYTHS REBUTTED
	This article, which appeared in The Independent newspaper on 8 May 2008 as a response to an earlier piece, outlines some of the facts about the benefits of organic farming. Topics include: why organic is good for the environment, more sustainable, and healthier pesticide levels in conventional food growth of demand for organic food » "The great organic myths rebutted" www.independent.co.uk » download the full article with references [PDF, 88KB]

»	IN 'MAKING CHANGE'
	Comment is free: Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director, comments regularly at guardian.co.uk on issues relating to organic food and farming which reflect the views of the organisation. Organic's better. Admit it "In general, it provides more beneficial nutrients than the equivalent non-organic food - and the Food Standards Agency should acknowledge this." » http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_melchett/2007/10/organics_better_admit_it.html Source of error "The Guardian's GM article was a shameless plug from a source who is not even a government minister." » http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_melchett/2007/09/source_of_error.html The double-standards agency? "Research commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed what was already a virtual certainty - that the cocktails of artificial additives used in many non-organic processed foods are a threat to children." » http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_melchett/2007/09/the_double_standards_agency.html Accidents will happen "The concept of 'biosecurity' is a myth. The manufacture of vaccines will always produce risks - and, in the case of foot and mouth, they are worth taking." » http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_melchett/2007/09/accidents_will_happen.html The green way to eat "Organic food is not only good for us - it can cut greenhouse gas emissions. So why is the government not behind it?" » http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_melchett/2007/09/the_green_way_to_eat.html

»	FEEDING THE OLYMPICS
	Feeding the Olympics: How and why the food for London 2012 should be local, organic and ethical In aiming to stage the greenest games ever, London’s bid promised to provide “local, seasonal and organic” food. A new report Feeding the Olympics from the Soil Association, Sustain and nef calls on London to deliver the promise to be the greenest and healthiest Games in terms of the food they provide, and sets out how this can be done. The report also highlights that London 2012 Olympics offers a unique opportunity to highlight the relationship between physical fitness and healthy food, to transform the food available at all major events, and to showcase the benefits of local, seasonal and organic food on a world stage. » read more

»	CHICKEN AND EGGS
	Factory farming has made chicken and eggs cheap to buy, but there has been a high price to pay in terms of animal welfare. It takes special care, attention to detail and real commitment to produce Soil Association chicken and eggs, and more and more shoppers concerned about animal welfare are buying them. » read more

»	KEY ISSUES: GET THE LOWDOWN
	» animal welfare » antibiotics in food and farming » eat organic - buy local » genetic engineering » pesticides in farming » wildlife in our countryside