Soft commodities investing

Sacks of grain

Agricultural or 'soft' commodities include edible goods such as sugar, coffee and wheat, and textile raw materials, such as cotton. Private investors have increasingly been able to play these once-obscure markets through specialist funds.

Recent articles (3)

Harvesting sugar cane © Bloomberg

'Fantastic opportunities' in agriculture

(30 October 09)

With the global population set to grow to over 9bn by 2050, agricultural commodity prices are set to go in one direction only.

Combine harvester ina field. © Aaron Packard/Bloomberg News

There's a grain shortage - here's how to profit

(19 October 09)

Agricultural commodities have been left behind in the big market bounce. But there are plenty of good reasons why they will soon be on the rise. John Stepek explains why, and looks at the best ways to cash in.

MoneyWeek magazine cover image: harvesting cash. © Adam Stower

Is the drought over for agriculture stocks?

(16 October 09)– Subscriber only Secure padlock

In the 1960s, agricultural technology tripled crop yields with the use of new crop varieties, irrigation, fertiliser and pesticides. Now there is a second green revolution going on. Eoin Gleeson looks at the latest developments – and how you can buy a stake in their future.