The Soil Association is urging the Food Standards Agency to change its mind about the nutritional benefits of organic foods. It has called on the FSA to catch up on its research following what it called a "wait and see" response to this week's Soil Association report into organic farming, food quality and human health. The Soil Association report claims that there is scientific evidence that organic food contains higher levels of minerals and vitamin C than conventionally produced food, and lower levels of harmful pesticide residues and food additives. Soil Association director Patrick Holden said: "This report contradicts Sir John Krebs, head of the Food Standards Agency, who said last year that there was not enough information available to be able to say that organic food is nutritionally different from non-organic food." A Soil Association spokeswoman added: "Our report was issued as a challenge to the FSA, which is not doing enough research into the health and environmental benefits of organics." The new report demands the UK government introduce a "health of the nation" initiative involving the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Department of Health to look at food production, food safety and human health. But a Food Standards Agency spokeswoman said: "We are not persuaded to change our mind by the report. It does not in our view make the case that there is a significant difference between organic and conventionally produced food in terms of safety or nutritional content. "Clearly further research is necessary." The Food Standards Agency is to invite all interested parties, including the Soil Association to a forum on organics this autumn. The meeting will be used to establish what the research priorities are. {{NEWS }}