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| Global Food and Water Security Program |
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October 2026 Newsletter |
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| Director's Note: The “Food Security Expert” and World Food Day |
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| Caitlin Welsh |
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| Director, Global Food and Water Security Program |
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Though we live in a world in which expertise is prized, and while I’m privileged to collaborate with experts of all kinds, I’m still amused whenever I hear the term “food security expert.” That’s because food security is a truly multidisciplinary concept and, in my opinion, no one person is an expert in each of the disciplines necessary for the realization of food security: from food security measurement to food weaponization, from plant genetics to food safety, from humanitarian assistance to soil health, from nutrition to water stress, from commodity trade to farmers’ livelihoods, from climate change to
social inequalities of all kinds, and on and on. On the eve of World Food Day, I’m grateful for the people and organizations around the world who contribute expertise that advances food security for everyone, everywhere. I’m also pleased to share our October newsletter, which highlights the breadth of food security issues my team has explored over the past few months ...
Read the Director's Note on LinkedIn >> |
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| “The measure of the good that AI can realize for the world will be determined by those who build its capacity, scale its use, deploy its potential, and employ its possibility—with the stakes of world hunger, and all the people that impacts, in mind." |
| - Zane Swanson, Emma Curtis, Joely Virzi, and Caitlin Welsh |
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| Food Security Solutions: Addressing Shocks from the Hormuz Closure, Black Sea Attacks, and El Niño |
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| On September 24, on the sidelines of UNGA, CSIS hosted “Food Security Solutions: Addressing Shocks from the Hormuz Closure, Black Sea Attacks, and El Niño” in partnership with Open Society Foundations. CSIS CSIS Global Development Department President Enoh T. Ebong delivered opening remarks, followed by scene-setting presentations from David Laborde of the FAO and Jean-Martin Bauer of the World Food Programme. Laborde, Bauer, Katherine F. Pickus of ADM, and Antonina Broyaka of Kansas State University joined a panel discussion moderated by Director Caitlin Welsh in which they discussed the nature of these shocks, their impacts—individually and collectively—on global food
security, and solutions tailored to this moment, in which threats to global food security are severe while political will is flagging and funding is falling. |
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| The Capital Area Food Bank 2026 Hunger Report Launch |
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| On September 15, the Capital Area Food Bank launched its 2026 Hunger Report at CSIS. The report provides one of the most comprehensive, data-driven looks at food insecurity in the Greater Washington region and explores cross-sector solutions to address this pressing challenge. The launch event featured a presentation of this year’s key findings, indicating the highest level of food insecurity in the DMV in five years, and a panel discussion on the data’s implications. A transcript of the event is available here. |
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| Did Iran Attack U.S. Water Systems? |
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| Cyberattacks targeting water and wastewater utilities were reported in at least a dozen states across the United States in late July. These serious and coordinated attacks did not present immediate threats to public drinking water, yet they revealed vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure in the United States. CSIS's Nikita Shah, Caitlin Welsh, and Lauryn Williams joined Will Todman to discuss why U.S. critical infrastructure is vulnerable, what can be done to respond, and why Iran-linked entities are the likely perpetrators of these attacks. |
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| Interested in hearing about our upcoming events when they're announced? Subscribe to CSIS's "Food Security" and "Water Security" topic lists for the latest upcoming events. |
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| China’s Hunger Games: How Beijing Turned Its Food Insecurity Into Geopolitical Leverage |
| By Caitlin Welsh and Brian Hart in Foreign Affairs — August 11, 2026 |
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| In "China's Hunger Games," published in Foreign Affairs, Caitlin Welsh and Brian Hart examine food insecurity in China, as well as ways Beijing has used its position as one of the world's largest agricultural importers as a tool of geopolitical leverage. |
| Read Here >> |
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| How Do the Latest Black Sea Attacks Affect Global Food Security? |
| Critical Questions by Caitlin Welsh, Emma Curtis, and Joseph Glauber — September 11, 2026 |
| For the first time since 2022, attacks on agricultural infrastructure and cargo vessels are limiting grain exports from Russia and Ukraine at the same time. CSIS experts examine the latest attacks, their food-security impacts, and how the Iran war is worsening the crisis. |
| Read Here >> |
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| AI and Global Food Security: A Focus on Food Systems |
| Commentary by Zane Swanson, Emma Curtis, and Caitlin Welsh — August 21, 2026 |
| As food systems face increasingly severe and complex shocks, AI-enabled innovations are proliferating across food production, logistics, markets, and humanitarian response. CSIS experts unpack the challenges and opportunities of AI for global food systems. |
| Read Here >> |
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| Rethinking Water as a Frontline Security Risk |
| Critical Questions by Franck Gbaguidi and Caitlin Welsh — August 5, 2026 |
| Water has emerged as a frontline security challenge. As scarcity, mismanagement, climate change, and conflict converge, water is being weaponized for geopolitical objectives worldwide. What can policymakers do to protect critical water infrastructure and mitigate risks? |
| Read Here >> |
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| Antonina Broyaka |
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| Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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| Vitalii Dankevych |
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| Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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| Joseph Glauber |
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| Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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| David Michel |
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| Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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| Andrew Rzepa |
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| Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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| Aaron Salzberg |
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| Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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| Sera Young |
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| Senior Associate (Non-resident), Global Food and Water Security Program |
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Bloomberg: The Other Hormuz: Black Sea Blockade Threatens a Food Supply Shock featuring Caitlin Welsh |
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Bloomberg: Is Trump About to Lose Farm Country for the Republicans? featuring Joseph Glauber |
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CBC: The Black Sea is the most dangerous it's been since the start of Russia’s war. And it's choking global grain featuring Caitlin Welsh |
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Chatham House: Contested waters in international politics featuring David Michel |
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Devex: Scoop: Lawmakers warn State Dept. is phasing out famine monitoring system featuring Zane Swanson |
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Foreign Policy: Why Hackers Keep Going After U.S. Water Supplies featuring Caitlin Welsh |
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France 24: Kuwaitis ration electricity as Iran hits power grid featuring David Michel |
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War on the Rocks: Key Areas Where Water Scarcity Intensifies Risks of Conflict featuring David Michel |
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| Executive Education Courses |
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| REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL 10/16 |
| Global Foresight: Geopolitical Risk and Scenario Planning |
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October 26 – 29, 2026 |
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CSIS Headquarters or Virtual |
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| Register Here >> |
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| REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL 11/20 |
| Women's Global Leadership Program |
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February 22 – 26, 2027 |
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CSIS Headquarters or Virtual |
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| Register Here >> |
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