VORONEZH, May 16. /TASS/. Russia plays an important part in assisting the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with one of its key objectives - using IT solutions for creating sustainable agriculture and food systems in Europe and Central Asia, Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the UN FAO said Wednesday at the 31st session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe held in Russia (Voronezh) for the first time.

"The Russian Federation is a very important FAO partner in assisting countries in the region and extending its technical expertise for ensuring food security and nutrition for all," da Silva said.

E-agriculture is one of the main topics of the agenda of the 31st Regional Conference for Europe, more specifically - the use of information and communication technologies to develop sustainable and inclusive food facilities, as well as trade integration.

"Over the past few years, advanced information technologies have been actively introduced in Russia’s agriculture sector," Russia’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Evgeny Gromyko said.

According to Russia’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Evgeny Gromyko, e-agriculture is one of the main priorities for the next decade. "Russia does not stay on the sidelines of these processes. Russia’s agro-industrial complex is starting to use achievements of the IT industry, and gradually turning into a high-tech industry that can provide food not only for Russia, but also for many countries of the world," Gromyko added.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO Regional Conferences are held once every two years, in years when the global FAO Conference does not hold its regular session. The 31th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe is being held in Voronezh on May 16-18.