The project SMOCA (Smart Management of Organic Conservation Agriculture) is funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) within the program FIRB-2013 (Future in Research), reserved only to young excellent researchers.

The project has a three years duration (2015-2017) and aims to integrate conservation agriculture (CA) practices, e.g. reduced/no-tillage and cover crops, in organic farming (OF) systems in different cropping systems (arable crops, field vegetables, orchards) in order to maximize the benefits provided by organic farming systems through their “ecological intensification”, to be achieved through advanced techniques aimed at improving soil quality and maximizing ecosystem services provision.