China recently shipped the first batch of its Guangming 2 white-feather broiler chickens to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a new step in the expansion of independently bred and high-quality poultry breed to the Middle East market.

Developed by the Institute of Animal Science of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, together with domestic agricultural enterprises, Guangming 2 is one of China's first nationally approved white-feather broiler breeds, with production performance rivaling leading international breeds, according to CAAS.

The variety incorporates advanced technologies such as the Jingxin 1 breeding chip for genomic selection and intelligent phenotyping, doubling the speed of genetic progress. It also has a 35.2 percent lower incidence of muscle abnormalities compared to international lines, it added.

Zhao Guiping, chief scientist of the breeding team, said the international rollout of Guangming 2 provides a Chinese solution for the global agricultural supply chain. Chinese breeds are expected to reach a broader market in the Middle East and worldwide, contributing to a diversified global food system, she said.

The export also signals a growing agricultural cooperation between the two countries, apart from existing collaboration in breeding technologies and demonstration farms.

Before entering the Saudi market, Guangming 2 had already been exported to countries including Pakistan and Tajikistan.