About the evaluation
- The Office of Audit and Evaluation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada undertook the evaluation of the Agricultural Clean Technology Program (ACT) to assess its relevance, efficiency and effectiveness.
- The evaluation assessed activities and outcomes for both streams of ACT: Adoption (ACT-A) and Research and Innovation (ACT-RI) from 2021-2022 to December 2024 using a variety of methods including: a document and file review, a primary and secondary data analysis, a literature review, a comparative review, an overlap analysis, key informant interviews as well as case studies conducted with internal and external stakeholders.
ACT summary
- ACT was established as part of the Government of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan to create an enabling environment for the development and adoption of clean technology that will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
- ACT launched in 2021 as a $165 million, 7-year program (2021-2022 to 2027-2028) consisting of 2 streams: Adoption, and Research and Innovation.
- Budget 2022 committed an additional $330 million in funding for clean technologies on farms to be delivered through the existing ACT program.
What we found
Relevance
- ACT is relevant because it addresses cost barriers to developing and adopting agricultural clean technology and is complementary to other similar programs in Canada.
- ACT’s 3 priority areas are broad enough to encompass emerging priorities.
Efficiency
- ACT-A responded quickly to improve elements of program design and delivery and surpassed service standard targets; ACT-RI design and delivery was generally efficient.
Effectiveness
- Progress is being made towards outcomes with further progress expected through program duration.
- ACT’s Performance Measurement Framework’s logic model and indicators limit the ability to clearly identify and assess the full breadth of the program’s impacts.
Recommendations
Recommendation 1: The Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Branch, in consultation with the Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management Branch, should update the program’s performance information profile to permit the measure of appropriate outcomes for each of the 2 streams against distinct immediate and intermediate outcome statements.
Management response
Management agrees with the evaluation recommendation, and has developed an action plan to address it by January 2026.