The present publication is an account of the technological developments in no-tillage systems that took place in southern Brazil from the viewpoint of the principal actors in this process. Special emphasis is given to the technological development of mechanization of conservation agriculture as it is in this area that the domestic agricultural machinery industry has played a key role in Livro Plantio Direto_Ingles - 11-01-12.indb 5 11/1/2012 18:48:46 adapting and developing indigenous technologies suited to different soil and climatic conditions and soil conservation management strategies practised in the country. The ability to generate innovative technological solutions, in flexible and diverse ways and also for different categories, of farmers has put the agricultural machinery industry of Brazil at the forefront of the global market. The country is now a reference point in the field of mechanization of conservation agriculture.