Webinar Series – AI for Food Systems Research

29 January 2026. From Foundations to Field: Lessons from Microsoft and Reply’s Work in Agriculture

CGIAR/IFPRI webinar in the AI for Food Systems Research series — panel exploring how AI and digital tools are used in agricultural decision-making, innovation adoption, and research-to-practice translation

See the recording here

As large language models (LLMs) and generative AI systems evolve, understanding how these technologies work—and what they can realistically achieve—has become essential for researchers and practitioners alike. 

• The session began with a deep dive from Sean Smith of Reply/Microsoft, who will unpack the core principles behind AI and LLMs—how these models are trained and what their strengths and limitations are across different use contexts.
• Building on this foundation, Ryan McCamy, also from Reply/Microsoft, showcased practical use cases in the agricultural sector. He demonstrated how AI-driven tools are being designed and deployed to enhance decision-making, streamline knowledge management, and support sustainable food system innovation.
• Lina Yassin, Digital & Data Product Director with the CGIAR Digital Transformation Initiative, who will led the discussion and offered reflections from the perspective of CGIAR’s applied research and digital innovation portfolio.

The presentations bridged the gap between technical innovation and agricultural impact—highlighting how cutting-edge AI models can be harnessed responsibly to address real-world challenges while remaining attentive to local context, data ethics, and user trust.