Food: Employers may have to become providers

Rising food prices are likely to present a growing political risk to companies as inflationary pressures fuel political instability in developing countries.

There have been food riots in 35 countries this year and there are concerns that governments could fall as hungry and fuel-deprived people take their anger to the streets.

In the past year, food riots have hit Egypt, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen as prices have jumped almost 60 per cent in a year.

In Bangladesh, thousands of low-paid garment workers took to the streets in June to demand higher wages to cope with rising food prices.

Some policymakers have chosen short-term solutions such as raising salaries in Egypt, or are imposing food controls as adopted by the UAE. Haiti