Program directory · National Research Council Canada
Aquatic and Crop Resource Development
- Department
- National Research Council Canada
- Program code
- BNQ02 (NRC)
- Core responsibility
- Science and Innovation
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
Through advanced scientific research, research services and technology development, the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development (ACRD) program aims to make Canada a world leader in sustainable biomass transformation. ACRD works with industry, academia and government partners to develop and transform agricultural and marine bioresources into food, feed and ingredients, and other high value bioproducts. ACRD serves its clients and collaborators through three main mechanisms: it enters collaborative research agreements to co-develop new knowledge and technologies, conducts a range of research and technical services to provide industry support and works with other government departments to further Government of Canada priorities. From this work, ACRD aims to not only expand its capabilities in biomass transformations, it strives to support the development of sustainable products, processes, and technologies. The program also aims to transfer knowledge to its client and collaborators to enhance their R&D capabilities. All of this is expected to lead to the Canadian bio-based sector to produce more made-in-Canada technologies and products while adopting more sustainable practices. The program also aims to increase the sustainability of domestic supply chains for food and renewable bioresources and support other NRC programs in achieving their strategic objectives. Ultimately, ACRD aims to be a leader in innovating industrial biotechnologies for marine and terrestrial biomass transformation, helping the Canadian agri-food and ocean bioeconomies become more competitive and grow through new sustainable technologies.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatic and Crop Resource Development | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $188M |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Indicators added: Citation score of Aquatic and Crop Resource Development generated publications relative to world average; Number of patent applications filed; Revenue earned from all external research clients | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2021-22 | Indicators dropped: Number of clients and collaborators working with the Research Centre annually; Number of unique intellectual assets generated by Research Centre employees; Value of external contributions to Research Centre research and development services and scientific and technological infrastructure | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | ≥ 1.6 | 2022 | 1.34 Over the last two fiscal years, ACRD has scaled up R&D activities in new areas of priorities aligning with its latest strategic plan. Scientific recognition in these new strategic areas of priorities is expected to lag initially as R&D matures, results are published and reputation is gradually established. Nevertheless, to put this citation score result in perspective, 28% of ACRD publications we… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 1.6 | 2023 | 1.32 The Aquatic & Crop Resource Development (ACRD) Research Centre continues to build expertise in new areas of research and is expecting citation of publications in these areas to lag initially as the R&D comes to maturity. To put this citation score result in perspective, 23% of ACRD publications were in the top 10% most cited in the world in 2022-23. | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 1.3 | 2024 | 1.17 The 3-year average citation index reflects low performance from the previous two fiscal years, namely due to a lull post pandemic. This year’s annual score of 1.27 is close to the target of 1.3 and suggests that ACRD is on track to meet its citation score target in future years. | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 1.3 | 2025 | 1.12 ACRD’s resources have focused on the development of a new Business Strategy Group aimed at further increasing engagement and collaboration with industry, which has drawn focus away from publication-generating activities. In fiscal year 2025-26, ACRD will balance the implementation of the business strategy with activities to improve its citation score. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | ≥ 10 | 2022 | 6 Fiscal year 2021-22 was a transition period in which efforts were focused on advancing existing IP files (11 patents issued) while conducting a strategic review of the IP pipeline in light of new ACRD priorities. R&D in new areas more aligned with ACRD’s strategic plan reached full intensity, but these new activities require more time to support a greater volume of new patent filings. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 6 | 2023 | 9 | Met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 3 | 2024 | 1 The result is reflective of a transition period in ACRD activities. In the forward-looking strategy, the focus is not likely to be on patenting and future year targets will be set accordingly. | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 5 | 2025 | 1 ACRD’s focus is on working with industry to advance technologies improving the resiliency and sustainability of Canada’s agricultural and marine sectors. Reflecting this focus, the target of 5 has been modified to 1 for fiscal year 2025-26. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | ≥ $3.5M | 2022 | $4.1M | Met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ $4.9M | 2023 | $3.9M Exhaustion of the Aquatic & Crop Resource Development (ACRD) Research Centre’s legacy revenue pipeline coinciding with significant macroeconomic pressure on SME clients (i.e., inflation, interest rates, world challenges, etc.) has had an important impact on revenue earned by ACRD in 2022-23. The Research Centre is working to adjust its strategy and replenish this pipeline for 2023-24 and beyond. | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ $4.9M | 2024 | $3.1M The needs of ACRD clients have evolved since the pandemic. To adjust to this new reality, ACRD underwent a major strategic realignment in 2023-24 including realignment of resources and leadership change. ACRD has now launched its new 2024-29 strategy incorporating the recommendations and actions identified in the most recent ACRD evaluation. As a result, the research centre is now expected to ent… | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ $5M | 2025 | $5.1M | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 147 | 2019 | 117 Although the number of new clients in 2018-19 was lower than the previous year, the total volume of work (as indicated by revenues) increased. The Aquatic & Crop Resource Development (ACRD) Program is building longer term relationships with existing clients, the resource implications of which impacts ability to provide services to new /additional clients. However, ACRD will continue to reach out… | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 147 | 2020 | 104 The 2019-20 target was based on the past practice of having many clients with smaller projects and some anticipated growth in the number of clients. In line with NRC's new strategic direction, Aquatic & Crop Resource Development prioritized its available capacity to work on larger scale projects fostering long term relationships with a smaller number of strategic partners. The target set for 2020… | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 130 | 2021 | 78 In order to comply with public health measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development had to restrict on-site activities to focus on pandemic response priority projects, thus cancelling or postponing many projects with clients and collaborators. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 74 | 2019 | 57 2018-19 was another year of transitioning activities among Aquatic & Crop Resource Development (ACRD) subprograms. Fewer unique intellectual assets (IAs) are generated when Programs are ramping down (Algal Carbon Conversion and Wheat) or are in their development stage. An increased focus on independent research and new collaborations in 2019-20 will help to ACRD achieve higher IA targets in the c… | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 64 | 2020 | 60 The intellectual assets produced by Aquatic & Crop Resource Development in 2019-20 were slightly lower than previous years’ results due to the development of new subprograms. With an increased focus on independent research and new collaborations, these new subprograms are expected to result in increased intellectual assets as they ramp up over the coming years. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 65 | 2021 | 62 Target was essentially met. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ $4.9M | 2019 | $5.6M | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ $4.9M | 2020 | $5.5M | Met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ $4.9M | 2021 | $2.4M In order to comply with public health measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development had to restrict on-site activities to focus on pandemic response priority projects, thus cancelling or postponing many revenue generating services normally provided. | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 1.12 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 1 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ $5.5M | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $27.4M | $25.6M |
| 2019-20 | $31.1M | $27.1M |
| 2020-21 | $31.6M | $24.6M |
| 2021-22 | $27.3M | $26.5M |
| 2022-23 | $27.2M | $27.3M |
| 2023-24 | $29.5M | $25.6M |
| 2024-25 | $31.4M | $31.1M |
| 2025-26 | $27.6M | — |
| 2026-27 | $27.7M | — |
| 2027-28 | $27.2M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $27.3M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 124 | 183 |
| 2019-20 | 187 | 176 |
| 2020-21 | 182 | 178 |
| 2021-22 | 177 | 188 |
| 2022-23 | 185 | 180 |
| 2023-24 | 182 | 159 |
| 2024-25 | 158 | 158 |
| 2025-26 | 154 | — |
| 2026-27 | 151 | — |
| 2027-28 | 150* | — |
| 2028-29 | 150* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $27,366,747 | $24,001,148 | $24,092,518 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $31,099,758 | $31,191,081 | $31,190,879 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $31,610,357 | $31,822,171 | $31,879,828 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $27,336,771 | $27,390,528 | $27,379,828 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $27,217,291 | $27,208,483 | $27,270,283 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $29,460,770 | $31,122,355 | $31,930,941 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $31,445,968 | $32,289,661 | $32,585,155 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $27,626,453 | $27,927,683 | $27,559,521 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $27,667,575 | $27,212,671 | $27,307,688 | ||||||||
| Actual | $25,597,491 | $27,141,365 | $24,603,729 | $26,540,797 | $27,335,327 | $25,617,164 | $31,053,359 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
