Globally, soils contain three times as much C, present as organic matter; as does the atmosphere. Increasing C storage in soils is thus one of the strategies by which the agricultural sector can mitigate its net greenhouse gas emissions. In European temperate areas, climate change is expected to decrease precipitations and increase the frequency of drought events. Through its strong effects on soil water retention and infiltration, soil organic matter can also contribute to the adaptation of cropping systems to climate change. Moreover, soil organic matter contributes to yield stability by fostering soil biodiversity and supplying nutrients. Storing organic carbon in agricultural soils is thus considered as a triple-win climate-smart strategy (mitigation, adaptation, sustainable intensification). Using France, with its typical intensive and diversified agriculture, as a case study, we identified cropping practices that would increase soil C stocks while maintaining productivity and without major changes in the current cropping systems. We considered three actions: reducing tillage, planting more cover crops in annual cropping systems, and developing agroforestry and hedges. We quantified the additional soil C storage potential per unit surface area induced by these practices based on a literature review. We then determined the applicability of the actions in mainland France and their C storage potential at the national scale. The actions considered have the potential to increase national soil C stocks by up to 2 Tg C y-1, while maintaining production levels and increasing the resistance and resilience of soils and cropping systems to climate change.Read less <