U.S. Plans More G20 Talks on Food and Fertilizer Risks From Middle East War

The United States said on Monday, April 20, 2026 that it will hold further talks with G20 economies on the impact of the Middle East war on food systems and fertilizer supply chains, underscoring growing alarm about spillover effects far beyond the region.

Reuters reported that the issue surfaced in a chair's statement tied to meetings of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings. While officials stopped short of announcing a full coordinated response, they signaled that discussions would continue in search of an actionable consensus.

The stakes are high because fertilizer disruptions at the start of the growing season can reduce agricultural output months later, especially in import-dependent and financially fragile countries. International institutions have already warned that the war's effect on energy and transport costs could push many more people toward food insecurity.

U.S. officials want G20 partners to avoid export restrictions, stay flexible in their policy responses, and work with the IMF and World Bank to cushion the shock. Even without a final agreement yet, the renewed talks show that governments are treating fertilizer access not as a narrow farm issue, but as a core global stability problem.