Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming agri-food systems, accelerating research and innovation to address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture. This four-hour Side Event will bring together experts and pioneering projects to explore how AI is enhancing research, decision-making, and impact in agri-food systems. The keynote session will set the stage with a high-level overview of the current status of AI in agri-food system research and innovation. Subsequent sessions will showcase key applications, including the use of generative AI to strengthen agricultural advisory services for small-scale producers, AI-powered Earth observation analytics for climate adaptation and natural resource management, and digital phenotyping with AI to accelerate public breeding efforts in the Global South. Together, these sessions will highlight how AI-powered tools and approaches are revolutionizing agri-food systems research and development, creating new opportunities for scalable and impactful solutions.