Name in original language
Accélération de l'innovation, de l'automatisation et de l'IA (i3A)
Initiative overview
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Innovation, Automation and AI Acceleration (i3A) is a department-wide initiative designed to accelerate the responsible, practical, and scalable adoption of artificial intelligence and automation across AAFC. Developed in response to rising citizen expectations, capacity pressures, and varying digital readiness, i3A enables employees to move from ideas and perceptions to real-world application through structured experimentation building on our current data ecosystem and workforce investment.
The programme combines governance guardrails with hands-on delivery. A dedicated Centre of Expertise and a core enablement team provide architecture, cybersecurity, cloud, data, and governance support, ensuring innovation progresses safely and responsibly. Cross-functional pods bring together IT specialists and employees from across branches to co-design solutions that address operational challenges. Through staged experimentation and ethics and risk check-ins, ideas evolve into tested and scalable solutions that strengthen internal services, organisational performance and data foundation.
An external Executive Digital Leaders advisory board provides strategic insight and perspectives from across sectors, helping the programme stay aligned with emerging practices and broader digital transformation trends and an internal AI Ethics Committee is also available for support. Equitable access is central to i3A’s design. Targeted engagement sessions with senior management and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion networks help broaden participation and ensure diverse perspectives shape innovation.
Approximately one-third of the workforce is equipped with AI licences, while secure web-based tools extend access to employees without licences, supporting inclusive learning and experimentation at scale. Close to half of AAFC employees have engaged in training, showcases, or experimentation activities, building momentum and strengthening digital confidence across roles.
Looking ahead, i3A is institutionalising a repeatable pathway from experimentation to scale through standardised intake, reusable playbooks, and documented impact cases. By empowering those closest to service delivery, reinforcing responsible data practices, and embedding privacy, security, and human oversight into everyday workflows, the program advances trustworthy AI adoption while delivering sustainable, people-centered public value.
