Soil is a fundamental resource that is important for human survival. Currently, soil resources are degraded due to both natural causes and human activities, which affects soil productivity and economic and social conditions, which will exacerbate poverty. Therefore, to alleviate and prevent such impacts, the Asian Soil Partnership (ASP), an informal organization under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with 24 member countries, has an idea to establish a Center of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA) to be a center of soil information, research, and innovation that addresses local issues and promotes sustainable soil management (SSM) at the local, national, and regional levels. This will be implemented under the Asian Implementation Plan for 2013-2016, and the General Assembly of the Asian Soil Assembly resolved that Thailand be the leader in establishing such a center. The Land Development Department, as the soil agency of Thailand, has been assigned by the Cabinet to be the main host in establishing and driving the Center of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA) to be a center of soil research data in various fields. Support national and regional soil information systems that are linked to the global soil information system, as well as being a center of soil excellence in various fields, so that member countries can exchange and learn from joint research and development experiences to enhance the sustainable soil management capacity of the country and the Asian region.

From past operations, an action plan has been developed to drive the operations of the CESRA Center to be in line with its objectives and with tangible results. It is currently in the second phase plan for 2024-2028. However, the operation of the Center must be upgraded to be able to respond to member organizations in the Asian region in order to truly become a center of soil research in Asia. Therefore, a brainstorming meeting with experienced people is needed to develop a strategic plan to upgrade the CESRA Center to be able to support the international working context. In this regard, CESRA organized a meeting with experts and stakeholders to develop a strategic plan to upgrade the CESRA Center to be an international organization. It was organized for 2 days from 31 March 2025 to 1 April 2025 at Meeting Room 1214 at the Department of Land Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Bangkok, Thailand.