Greening the Canadian Farm
The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program provides non-repayable contributions to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint. By investing in clean technology, farms can lower their energy costs and improve long-term sustainability.
Funding Streams
- Adoption Stream: Prioitizes the purchase and installation of commercially available technologies (e.g., high-efficiency grain dryers, solar panels).
- Research and Innovation: Supports the development of new clean technologies for the agri-sector.
Note: Projects can receive between $25,000 and $2,000,000 in funding, typically covering up to 40% of the project's eligible costs.
Status: Applications Are Closed
The Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program's Adoption Stream is closed to new applications, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) requires all funded projects to be completed by March 31, 2026. This page stays published because approved projects are still working through claims, and because farm operators researching past federal support need an accurate record of what the program covered. If you are planning clean-technology purchases for your farm now, treat ACT as closed and check AAFC's current program listings for anything that follows it.
What the Program Funded
ACT ran two streams. The Adoption Stream paid non-repayable contributions toward the purchase and installation of commercially available clean technology and equipment upgrades that cut greenhouse gas, fertilizer, or methane emissions: high-efficiency grain dryers, precision agriculture equipment that reduces fertilizer use, solar installations, and heat recovery systems are typical examples. The Research and Innovation Stream supported development of new clean technologies for the sector. Adoption Stream contributions ranged from $25,000 to $2,000,000 per project.
How the Cost Share Worked
AAFC generally covered a maximum of 40% of eligible costs, with the applicant contributing at least 60% in cash; in-kind contributions did not count toward the applicant's share. Where more than half of the business was owned by members of under-represented groups (Indigenous Peoples, youth aged 35 or under, women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ people), an additional 10% was available on attestation, taking the federal share to 50%.
What Made an Application Competitive
The intake prioritized projects by measurable reductions: higher greenhouse gas reductions per dollar asked, plus measurable fertilizer and methane reductions, ranked ahead of general efficiency claims. Submissions that arrived with vendor quotes, baseline fuel or fertilizer use, and a defensible estimate of annual emission reductions were easier to assess than narrative applications, and the program guide asked for exactly that kind of evidence.
Worked Example (Hypothetical)
Take a hypothetical prairie grain operation that bought a $600,000 high-efficiency grain dryer under an approved ACT project. At the standard 40% share, AAFC's non-repayable contribution would be $240,000 and the operation would carry $360,000 in cash costs. If the operation qualified for the additional 10% share, the federal contribution would rise to $300,000 and the farm's cash share would fall to $300,000. This example is hypothetical and uses the published cost-share ratios only; eligible costs were set project by project in each contribution agreement.
If You Hold an Approved Project
Approved projects must be completed by March 31, 2026. Keep supplier invoices, proof of payment, and installation records together, because contribution claims are audited against them. Cash contributions had to be real cash outlays, so bank payment records matter as much as invoices. If your completion date is at risk, contact the program early rather than after the deadline; the contribution agreement, not this page, governs what can be extended.
If You Missed the Intake
Do not budget around a reopening that has not been announced. Check AAFC's program listings for successor funding, and check your provincial agriculture ministry for farm energy programs that run on their own calendars. When a future intake opens, the applications that move fastest are the ones with quotes, emission-reduction estimates, and ownership documentation already in hand, so preparing those files now is useful either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply? No. The Adoption Stream intake is closed, and all funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2026.
Was the funding a loan? No. ACT Adoption Stream support was a non-repayable contribution, which means approved funding did not have to be paid back, provided the project met its agreement terms.
What did the 40% cap mean in practice? AAFC reimbursed up to 40% of eligible project costs, or 50% for qualifying majority-owned businesses in under-represented groups. The applicant paid the rest in cash.
Where do I confirm current details? The official AAFC program page linked from this record is the source of truth for closure terms and any successor program.