US Leads G20 Talks to Protect Food and Fertilizer Amid Middle East War

The United States is stepping up as the chair of the Group of 20 (G20) to organize more meetings that will focus on how the war in the Middle East is hurting food supplies and fertilizer availability. The U. S. wants other major economies, including Russia and China, to act together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to keep farmers supplied with essential inputs. During a recent gathering of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors that coincided with spring sessions of the IMF and World Bank, officials discussed how war‑related price spikes and supply chain breaks are pushing up costs for farmers. They also talked about the danger of having 45 million extra people face hunger because fertilizer shipments were delayed at a critical time in the growing season. The meeting ended without a firm plan, but it showed strong support for future cooperation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced last week that the U. S. would push for a coordinated effort to guarantee fertilizer access worldwide. He argued that a quick, joint response could prevent the war’s economic shock from turning into a long‑term food crisis. The IMF has already lowered its growth outlook, citing higher energy prices and disrupted trade routes.Most G20 members backed the U. S. idea but a few said they could not commit by week’s end. Staff‑level talks will continue, aiming to turn the discussion into an actionable consensus. The details of how this coordination would work remain unclear. Several G20 countries stressed the need to avoid export bans or limits on fertilizers, especially for low‑income nations that depend heavily on imports. They also welcomed the IMF and World Bank’s plan to meet this week, assess aid requests from struggling countries, and coordinate the best response. The discussion highlighted that keeping diversified fertilizer production is key to shielding poor communities from market shocks. Under Bessent’s leadership, the G20 has paused many committees on climate and sustainability to focus on core macroeconomic issues. A Treasury spokesperson said the goal is to make the G20 “a more nimble, action‑oriented group. ” Washington hopes that this renewed focus will lead to tangible results for food security and market stability.