18/November/20

 

In an important development, a paper by Rossana Segreto of University of Innsbruck, Austria and Yuri Deigin of Youthereum Genetics Inc. in Canada, which argues for the possible lab origin and genetically engineered status of SARS-CoV-2, has appeared in a peer-reviewed publication. The authors state that SARS‐COV‐2's chimeric structure and furin cleavage site might be the result of genetic manipulation. They also state that certain features of the virus that are crucial to its ability to infect humans could result from site‐directed mutagenesis, a genetic engineering procedure "that does not leave a trace". The paper contains a thorough deconstruction of the much-cited article by Andersen et al, which stated that SARS-CoV-2 most likely has a natural origin. Problems & Paradigms

 

 

Dr Rossana Segreto, first author of the new paper on the possible lab origin of SARS-CoV-2 (see above), previously self-published a paper arguing that scientific articles arguing for a manmade origin of SARS-CoV-2 should not be censored – a reference to the problems scientists have encountered in trying to publish work on this topic in peer-reviewed journals. GMWatch

 

 

Governments across the globe are deciding that small farms are not biosecure against infectious diseases. Despite plentiful evidence that small farms are in fact more safe and more biosecure, they are enacting rules and regulations that are near impossible for small farms with animals outdoors to meet, either cost-effectively or at all. The result is destroying rural and traditional ways of life. Independent Science News

 

 

Bill Gates and his Foundation have a major new project. Its full title is "The Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations LLC", but usually it is called "Ag One". The stated purpose of Ag One is to bring an improved green revolution to Africa, India, and neglected areas of South America. According to its manifesto, Ag One will accelerate technology acquisition to solve problems of poverty and climate impacts. But its real agenda, argue authors from Navdanya, a farmer-led movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity, is predatory and imperialist. It is to capture valuable agricultural data, genetic data, and other resources from farmers in the Global South, acquiring them for corporate use. Additionally, Ag One will be used to open markets for agribusiness, especially seed and chemical markets. Independent Science News