The effects of food shortages in Asia – from riots to rising prices – have made many of the headlines in Asia over the past few months, and given fresh encouragement to investment managers in the region to sell products based on the theme of food.

The price of basic foods, including grains, meat, dairy products and sugar, has surged in the past year. A basket of 55 such items, monitored by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, was 53 per cent more expensive in April than a year previously.