Land degradation is one of the biggest threats to food security and agriculture in Asia and the Pacific.  Approximately  25%  of  all  land  in  the  region  is  degraded,  with  13%  classified  asseriously  degraded,  leading  to  soil  erosion  and  fertility  losses,  increased  flash  floods and landslides that particularly affect the poor and marginalized minorities. Asia is home to 37.2% of the global arable land and the largest area of land under degradation.The Regional Assessment of Soil Change in Asia, as part of the Status of World’ Soil Resources( FAO, 2015)  highlights the following main threats to soil in the region 1)  Erosion; 2)  Soil organic carbon change; 3) Soil salinization and sodification and 4) Nitrogen imbalance. These threats   are   driven   by   compounded   impacts   of   population   growth,   industrialization, urbanization, unsustainable agriculture, and climate change. In 2019, the Fifth Asian Soil Partnership ( ASP)  Plenary Meeting held in New Delhi, India recommended and endorsed the establishment of the Center of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia  ( CESRA) .  The  major  mission  of  CESRA  is  to  support  ASP  countries  in  achieving sustainable  soil  management  with  coordinated  actions  on  soil  protection,management  and restoration  in  the  regions  and  mitigate  the  negative  impacts  on  food  production  and  food security as well as sustaining provision of ecosystem services and climate change adaptation. CESRA is  also expected to promote the exchange of knowledge, data, and experience in the region  through,  among  others,  the  promotion  and  implementation  of  the  Southeast  Asia Laboratory Network ( SEALNET)  with data harmonization and standardization and facilitate technical cooperation. The  CESRA  Secretariat  was established  in  the  Land  Development  Department  ( LDD) , Thailand. The CESRA will serve as the regional hub for advancing targeted soil research based on regional priorities to feed decision making.  FAO Thailand has supported the development of an operational strategy and work plan for CESRA through the TCP project and strengthening technical capacity for soil testing laboratories with harmonization of soil data and information and the establishment of the National Thai Soil Laboratory Network. In 2021, A Global Map of Salt Affected Soils (GSASmap) is available through the Global Soil Partnership ( GSP).