by rural commentator Pat Crawford

Ash from erupting volcano Eyjafjallajokull caused havoc that, in one way or another, affected the greater portion of the world's airways with at least 100,000 flights cancelled.

Estimates of the knock-on effects on the global economy vary considerably but the figures are all very large.

Perhaps even more worrying is the fact that some geologists are suggesting that we should expect increasing numbers of eruptions, some of which could well have equally serious consequences.

Presumably cancelled freight flights had an immediate effect on our imports of fresh produce. The figures for 2009 from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) indicate that we imported some 41 per cent of vegetables and 88 per cent of fruit.

A considerable percentage of these imports were flown in from East Asia and Africa. What happens if eruptions from Eyjafjallajokull - or another volcano - result in disruption to flights on an even bigger scale?

Are we sufficiently self-sufficient in foodstuffs to cope with a number of temporary glitches?

Anyway, shouldn't this question be considered in relation to the provision of food security as a whole?

The picture is bigger - and infinitely more serious. By 2050 it is estimated that world population will exceed nine billion.

Meanwhile, we shall lose valuable agricultural and residential land as iceberg melt causes sea levels to rise. Add to this the possibility of havoc created by natural disasters such the one we have just experienced and the potential enormity of the problem becomes clear.

One of the subjects debated earlier this year at the influential Oxford Farming Conference concerned the importance of greater investment in horticulture research.

Consider this in light of news that one of the most respected, and oldest, establishments, Horticulture Research International, is being 'restructured' (ie, cut).

Align this to the fact that this week it was announced that the horticultural and agricultural industries ('farming') are going to need 60,000 new entrants. Something of a conundrum begins to emerge: it seems we are short on resources, research and people - at this rate, we could surely soon be short on food?

Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, whose background pre-Hadlow College was in the City finance sector, calculates the risks but also perceives the opportunities.

He says: "This country has some brilliant farmers, quite a few of whom farm here in Kent. We should see these issues not in terms of disaster, but as opportunity for farming to reassert itself as one of our most important and most valued industries."

Charles Tassell, ex-Hadlow and present NFU county chairman, agrees: "I think this is a wakeup call to everyone in the industry. All too often reportage concentrates on bad news stories and this overshadows the fact that we are highly skilled and very competent. We need to broadcast these facts and get consumers on board to back us and make British produce their first choice."

The last time farmers were called to action was probably during the Second World War.

Their response then is the stuff of legends. And there is no reason not to believe they cannot repeat the performance.