Organic conservation agriculture is a production method that combines and integrates the principles of organic farming and conservation agriculture. As such, it excludes, on the one hand, the use of synthetic phytosanitary products (GMO) and fertilizers and, on the other hand, promotes the diversification of crops over time and space, maximizes soil cover, and strongly limits soil tillage. The articulation of organic conservation agriculture practices is achieved through monitoring soil health, with the aim of enhancing the physical, chemical, and biological fertility of the soil.

Organic conservation agriculture allows for shallow soil tillage (up to 10 cm deep) on an occasional basis, without plowing, using powered (rotary harrow) or non-powered (chisel plow) scalping tools to address its main challenge: integrated weed management. It also involves orienting seeding practices toward specific seeders that can handle the presence of plant residues on the soil surface (direct seeding). Developing adapted varieties would improve the competitiveness of crops against weeds.

Shallow and occasional soil tillage also stimulates bacterial activity, which promotes mineralization in the surface layer of the soil, necessary for crop nutrition. The addition (exogenous, compost, or manure) or restitution (crop residues, cover crops) of organic matter to the soil helps sustain mineralization and enhances the structural stability of the soil.

Pest and disease control is achieved through prophylaxis, leveraging ecosystem services derived from enhanced biodiversity (auxiliaries) and crop diversification.

Historically applied in large-scale agriculture, organic conservation agriculture is expanding across all plant sectors, most often within collective initiatives, and thus stands as a strong lever for agroecological transition by promoting the resilient functioning of the agroecosystem.