CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program Newsletter: June 2026

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Global Food and Water Security Program

June 2026 Newsletter

Director's Note: Summertime

Caitlin Welsh

Director, Global Food and Water Security Program

Happy July 4th weekend! It’s officially summer, so we’re taking a new spin on the CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program’s newsletter this month. I’ve invited my GFWSP teammates to join me in sharing what we’re reading, listening to, and watching to celebrate the season.

As for me, I’m taking a decidedly un-summer approach to summer reading: I’m reading… The Iliad. Two years ago, I read and loved Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey, so I’m on to its prequel, also translated by Wilson. Both books are great preparation for this summer’s blockbuster movie (in theaters in 16 days, but who’s counting?), and because everything comes down to food security in the end, The Iliad also reminds me of the role of food in war. In The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer makes abundantly clear that food is fuel for armies—as Lizzie Collingham illustrates in The Taste of War: World War II and the Battle for Food.

As for what I’m watching: the World Cup, of course! More on that from my colleague Zane Swanson, but here I’ll simply say that I love that it demonstrates a different role for food: not in fueling conflict, but in bringing us together. Fries in milkshakes! Philly cheesesteaks! Ranch dressing! Around the country, American food is connecting global visitors to their American hosts. As the number of global conflicts rises and domestic polarization increases, I’m glad something as simple as food (and sport) can bring us together.

As for what I’m listening to, one word: WFUV. And with this, on to recommendations from the team…

Read the Director's Note on LinkedIn >>

Featuring

“Some countries that are reliant on the Gulf for their fertilizer inputs may be on the brink or may be already experiencing humanitarian catastrophe—and at the same time, fertilizer markets are disrupted, energy prices are rising, and humanitarian assistance is more difficult to deliver."

- Caitlin Welsh

Half-Day Conference | The US-Iran War’s Threat to Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa

The Middle East Institute — May 15, 2026

The Middle East Institute convened a half-day hybrid conference examining ways the Iran war and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz are threatening global food security, featuring Caitlin Welsh, Charlotte Hebebrand (IFPRI), and Karen E. Young (MEI), and moderated by David J. Lynch, global economics correspondent for The Washington Post.

Watch the Event Here >>

Read the Key Takeaways Here >>

Events

Was the G7 Summit in France a Success?

After the G7 Summit wrapped up in France, CSIS experts Victor Cha, Kristi Govella, Phil Luck, and Caitlin Welsh joined Will Todman on State of Play for a rapid analysis of the outcomes, the optics, and what the summit means for the future of the G7.

Watch Here

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Analysis

What a Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Means for Energy and Beyond

Commentary by Raad Alkadiri, Clayton Seigle, Jon B. Alterman, Mona Yacoubian, Joely Virzi, and Caitlin Welsh — July 1, 2026

CSIS experts assess the implications of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire amid ongoing uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz and global energy markets. Joely Virzi and Caitlin Welsh argue that the peace deal is an important step in the recovery of global fertilizer markets and the easing of global food prices, but full food system recovery will not be immediate.

Read Here >>

Videos

How Water Infrastructure Became a National Security Vulnerability

The U.S.-Iran conflict has highlighted the increasing weaponization of water, exposing desalination infrastructure as a critical national security vulnerability. Senior Associate (Non-resident) Franck Gbaguidi explains how Gulf countries are made vulnerable by attacks to their water infrastructure, as well as what governments can do to address global water governance challenges.

Watch Here >>

AI for Food Security Forum

On April 30, the AI for Food Security Forum brought together U.S. and global policymakers, technology developers, financers, researchers, and implementing partners working at the forefront of AI for food security. The AI.FS Forum explored what is needed to ensure that AI will be an effective tool globally to strengthen agricultural productivity, enhance data ecosystems, build more resilient food systems, and ultimately contribute to the realization of a more food-secure world.

Watch the Recap Video Here >>

Affiliates in Action

Joseph Glauber

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program

Article: "Nigeria’s fuel, fertilizer, and food prices feel the strain of the Iran conflict," International Food Policy Research Institute, June 22

Article: "How fertilizer policies could exacerbate Hormuz price shocks," International Food Policy Research Institute, May 22