By August 2023, Honglian hybrid rice had been planted on more than 30 million hectares worldwide, according to China News Service."PU-786 fits Pakistan well because of its heat-tolerance, strong resistance to disease and lodging, and relatively lower technical threshold," Zhu said. "It produces firm and non-sticky rice, which suits local eating habits."

The gains could go beyond higher yields. Ashfaq said local farmers' incomes have increased, while Pakistan's export potential has also improved — a critical factor for food security in a country with a growing population. Bringing a mature Chinese breeding system into Pakistan was never going to be straightforward. Zhu described the biggest challenges as adaptation and localization. Climate, soil, light conditions and consumption habits are different, meaning the varieties had to go through ecological testing, regional trials and targeted selection in Pakistan.

Technology transfer and talent cultivation also remain major tasks, he added. The partners plan to establish another hybrid rice research center, focusing on developing more locally adapted varieties for Pakistan, continuing joint breeding work and screening materials with stronger heat and disease resistance.

It would further support researcher exchanges and technical training to strengthen local research and breeding capacity. The Sino-Pakistan hybrid rice collaboration also offers an example for other Belt and Road countries facing similar challenges of low yields, climate stress and food security concerns."This collaboration shows how joint research, shared technology and farmer-focused training can deliver transformative results," Ashfaq said.

Contact the writers at guoyanqi@chinadaily.com.cn