A recent British government report concludes that organic food may be no better for the environment than conventional produce and in some cases is contributing more to global warming than intensive agriculture.
A comprehensive study of the environmental impact of food production found there was “insufficient evidence” to say organic farming has fewer ecological side-effects than other farming methods.

The 200-page document is sure to spur debate in the UK, where the organic food industry grew 30% last year. 

Academics at the Manchester Business School, who conducted the study, said there are  environmental advantages to raising some organic crops, but that those are offset by problems associated with other organic foods, including milk, tomatoes and chicken, which it says are significantly less energy efficient and can be more polluting than conventional equivalents.

In response, advocates of organic farming conceded that in some areas, such as poultry and growing vegetables out of season, organic was less energy efficient, but that those factors were outweighed by others the study had not taken into consideration such as animal welfare, soil condition and water use.